16
$\begingroup$

My question is assume that we know that the degree of some irreducible variety is small does it possible to conclude that there exists polynomial of small degree vanishing on this variety.

Let us make the question more concrete: Let $V\subset A^{2n}$ be an irreducible algebraic variety of dimension $n$ and degree $d$ (say $2^n$). Let $I \triangleleft \mathbb{C}[x_1,\ldots, x_{2n}]$ be an ideal of all polynomials vanishing on $I$. My question is what is the best upper bound on the minimal degree of polynomials in $I$.

The best upper bound that I know is $2^n$, while I think that it is not the true. For example if $V$ is a complete intersection variety then $I$ must have polynomial of degree $2$.

$\endgroup$
3
  • $\begingroup$ Probably in this question co-dimension of the variety is more important than its dimension, but for simplicity let us assume that both of them $n$. $\endgroup$ Jul 25, 2012 at 7:32
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ You might want to look into the concept of a Gröbner basis. See Eisenbud, "Commutative Algebra with a view...", chap. 15. $\endgroup$ Jul 25, 2012 at 8:05
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ If you project $V$ generically onto $\mathbb A^{n+1}$, the image is an hypersurface $W$. This gives you a degree $d$ equation (in $n+1$ variables) that vanishes on $V$. $\endgroup$
    – rita
    Jul 26, 2012 at 8:33

2 Answers 2

4
$\begingroup$

The minimal degree of a polynomial that vanishes on $V$ is the minimal $m$ such that $h_I(m)\ne 0$, where $h_I$ denotes the Hilbert function of the variety $V$. Hence, you are interested in upper (and lower?) bounds on the Hilbert function of certain varieties. There are two papers I know that deal with such bounds:

$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ It is not really an answer, but since bounty ends soon I will accept it. $\endgroup$ Aug 2, 2012 at 11:57
5
$\begingroup$

You can have a look at the article "Direct methods for primary decomposition" by Eisenbud, Huneke and Vasconselos (Inventiones 110, 1992), available on Eisenbud's webpage. In proposition 3.5, they prove (and say it is long known) that a homogeneous equidimensional ideal $I$ of degree $d$ is generated up to radical by forms of degree at most $d$.

See also the remark following the proposition for an example showing it is sharp: $V$ is the union of $d$ skew lines that all meet a common line $L$. They also mention a conjecture in the case where $I$ is prime: up to a radical it should be generated by form of degree at most $d-$ codim $I + 1$.

$\endgroup$

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.