# Determinantal rings are Cohen-Macaulay

Consider a $n\times n$ matrix $M$ with entries in $R=\mathbb{C}[x_1,\dots,x_n]$. Let $I$ be the ideal of $(n-1)\times(n-1)$ minors of $M$. Is $\mathcal{O}_{\mathbb{C}^n}/I$ Cohen-Macaulay?If not, what additional assumptions we need for an affirmative answer?

• I think in your case for $R/I$ to be CM it is necessary that proj. dim $R/I\leq4$. Mar 18 '12 at 16:37
• the case that I'm more interested in is when I is of codimension 2. Mar 19 '12 at 15:23
• @Mahdi: how do you get $4$? Mar 26 '12 at 5:37
• A sufficient condition is that the quotient ring has the expected dimension. See mathoverflow.net/questions/44823/…
– jlk
Mar 28 '12 at 17:45

In general, the answer is no: consider the ring $k[x_1, x_2] / (x_1^2, x_1 x_2)$ which is not Cohen-Macaulay. However, if you require that the matrix has homogeneous entries and a condition on the height of the ideal $I$, you will have that $k[x_1, \dots, x_n] / I$ is Cohen-Macaulay. You could read the first pages of Determinantal Ideals by R. Miro-Roig.
• What is the condition on the height of $I$? Mar 18 '12 at 13:29