Monomial and toric ideals associated to Ferrers graphs

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Abstract

Each partition λ = (λ1, λ2,..., λn) determines a so-called Ferrers tableau or, equivalently, a Ferrers bipartite graph. Its edge ideal, dubbed a Ferrers ideal, is a squarefree monomial ideal that is generated by quadrics. We show that such an ideal has a 2-linear minimal free resolution; i.e. it defines a small subscheme. In fact, we prove that this property characterizes Ferrers graphs among bipartite graphs. Furthermore, using a method of Bayer and Sturmfels, we provide an explicit description of the maps in its minimal free resolution. This is obtained by associating a suitable polyhedral cell complex to the ideal/graph. Along the way, we also determine the irredundant primary decomposition of any Ferrers ideal. We conclude our analysis by studying several features of toric rings of Ferrers graphs. In particular we recover/establish formulæ for the Hilbert series, the Castelnuovo-Mumford regularity, and the multiplicity of these rings. While most of the previous works in this highly investigated area of research involve path counting arguments, we offer here a new and self-contained approach based on results from Gorenstein liaison theory

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1371-1395
Number of pages25
JournalTransactions of the American Mathematical Society
Volume361
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Mathematics
  • Applied Mathematics

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