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# Multiple Structures

## 1.  Introduction

The aim of this paper is present a systematic approach to the classification theory of (locally) Cohen-Macualay nilpotent schemes whose underlying space is a smooth, projective variety. On the way, we get lots of interesting examples, and several results linking these structures to more general questions of projective geometry.

In Chapter 2 we present the main technical tools needed for the theory. Basically, for any smooth projective subvariety $`X^N`$ and every nilpotent scheme $`Y`$ with $`Y_{\mathrm{red}}=X`$, we intersect $`Y`$ with the various infinitesimal neighbourhoods of $`X`$, and then remove the embedded components. This gives us a filtration of $`Y`$, which we will call the $`S_1`$-filtration of $`Y`$. There are very strong connections between the members of this filtration. For our purposes, the most interesting point is that $`Y`$ can be reconstructed from short exact sequences between the ideal sheaves of the schemes in the filtration and certain $`𝒪_X`$-Modules. When the multiple schemes are Cohen-Macaulay, these $`𝒪_X`$-Modules are locally free, and vice-versa.

In Chapter 3, we give a complete list of the Cohen-Macaulay schemes whose reduced subscheme is a linear subspace of codimension two, up to and including multiplicity five, with the extra assumption that all members of the $`S_1`$-filtration are Cohen-Macaulay themselves. We also get some general results, showing how the characteristic and the dimension come into play.

In Chapter 4 we give results linking the classification theory of multiple structures to other questions in projective geometry. The main observation is that if the locally free $`𝒪_X`$-Module metioned above is an extension of locally free sheaves of smaller rank, there is an intermediate Cohen-Macaulay nilpotent structure. This allows us to reformulate Hartshorne’s Conjecture on complete intersections in codimension two entirely in terms of existence questions for schemes of degree two and three.

In Chapter 5 we present a large class of 2-dimensional multiple structures in $`^4`$ that have non-Cohen-Macaulay schemes in the $`S_1`$-filtration. They all contain a complete intersection of multiplicity two less.

Acknowledgements

This article is based on parts of my Doctorate thesis. I would like to thank the group in algebraic geometry at the University of Bergen, G.Fl ystad, T.Johnsen, A.L.Knutsen, S.A.Str mme, J.-M. kland and most improtantly my advisor A.Holme. Furthermore, I have received a lot of interesting comments and advice from the evalutation committee: T.Johnsen, K.Ranestad and F.-O.Schreyer.

## 2.  Recursive construction of multiple structures

In this chapter we will construct a sequence of subschemes for any nilpotent scheme, whose reduced subscheme is a smooth subvariety of a smooth variety. The subschemes have milder nilpotencies, and satisfy Serre’s $`(S_1)`$-criterion. However, if the nilpotent scheme is Cohen-Macaulay, or a (locally) complete intersection, the same is not necessarily true for these subschemes. Note that we always use Cohen-Macaulay in the EGA sense: a scheme is Cohen-Macaulay if all its local rings are Cohen-Macaulay rings (and similarly for Modules).

### 2.1. Definition and elementary properties of the $`S_1`$-filtration

Let $`XYZ`$, where $`XZ`$ is a regular closed embedding of smooth connected projective schemes, and $`Y`$ is a nilpotent scheme with $`Y_{\mathrm{red}}=X`$. $`_X,_Y`$ are the Ideals, $`I_X,I_Y`$ the corresponding (saturated) ideals in the (or a) homogeneous coordinate ring of the projective variety $`Z`$. The infinitesimal neighbourhoods of $`X`$, $`X^{(i)}`$, are defined by the Ideals $`_X^{i+1}`$. Since $`Y_{\mathrm{red}}=X`$, there is a unique integer $`k`$ such that $`Y`$ is contained in $`X^{(k)}`$ but is not contained in $`X^{(k1)}`$.

###### Definition 2.1.

For each integer $`jk`$, define the scheme $`Y_j`$ as follows: Intersect $`Y`$ with $`X^{(j)}`$ and remove the embedded components. Algebraically, $`I_j:=I_{Y_j}`$ is the $`I_X`$-primary component of $`I_Y+I_X^{j+1}`$. Thus we have a sequence of subschemes

(1)
$$X=Y_0Y_1\mathrm{}Y_{k1}Y_kY$$

which we will call the $`S_1`$-filtration of $`Y`$.

The name is not misleading:

###### Proposition 2.2.

The schemes $`Y_j`$ all satisfy $`(S_1)`$.

###### Proof.

According to EGA Proposition $`IV_2,\mathrm{\S }\mathrm{5.7.5}`$, a scheme satisfies Serre’s $`(S_1)`$-criterion if and only if it is without embedded components. But we have removed the embedded components from our scheme. ∎

###### Remark 2.3.

If $`Y`$ itself satisfies $`(S_1)`$, the last inclusion $`Y_kY`$ actually becomes an equality, and we have a filtration of $`Y`$.

###### Remark 2.4.

The projectivity condition is included for simplicity. By considering only the Ideal sheaves, most of the theory that follows can be generalized to the setting of smooth, connected $`X`$ and $`Z`$, not even necessarily quasi-projective. The filtration can also be defined without smoothness conditions on $`X`$ and $`Z`$, but then the results must be substantially weakened.

Thus the schemes $`Y_j`$ are not necessarily Cohen-Macaulay, even if $`Y`$ is, just locally of depth $`1`$. But we have a partial result:

###### Proposition 2.5.

The locus $`D_jX`$ where $`Y_j`$ fails to be Cohen-Macaulay has codimension at least two.

###### Proof.

Whenever $`xX`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{codim}\overline{\{x\}}=1`$, $`Y_j`$ is Cohen-Macaulay in $`x`$ since $`Y_j`$ satisfies $`(S_1)`$. But being Cohen-Macaulay is an open condition, so in each irreducible subset of codimension one there is an open dense set where $`Y_j`$ is Cohen-Macaulay. Thus $`\mathrm{codim}D_j2`$. ∎

###### Corollary 2.6.

If $`X`$ is a curve, $`Y_j`$ is Cohen-Macaulay.

###### Definition 2.7.

A multiple Cohen-Macaulay scheme $`Y`$ is called a multiple structure of type I if the $`S_1`$-filtration consists of Cohen-Macaulay schemes. So all multiple structures on smooth curves are of type I. This definition comes from Manolache,.

For our study of the terms of the filtration we need the following technical lemma:

###### Lemma 2.8.

Suppose $`R`$ is a noetherian ring whose zero ideal is without embedded associated primes. Let $`JR`$ be an ideal with $`J_P=0`$ for all minimal primes $`P`$ in $`R`$. Then $`J=0`$.

###### Proof.

Assuming $`J_P=0`$ for all minimal primes $`P`$, we can find an element $`sR`$ which is not contained in any minimal prime $`P`$, and which annihilates $`J`$ (e.g. by prime avoidance). But then if $`J0`$ $`s`$ must be in an embedded prime, contrary to our assumption. ∎

###### Lemma 2.9.

There are inclusions

* $`_i_j_{i+j+1}`$ and
* $`_X_j_{j+1}`$.

###### Proof.

Note that the second inclusion is the special case $`i=0`$ of the first one. Let $`C_iX`$ be the union of the embedded components of $`YX^{(i)}`$, and let $`B`$ be the union of the $`C_i`$ and the $`D_i`$ (from Proposition 2.5). For all $`xB`$ we have equations

$$_{i,x}=_{Y,x}+_{X,x}^{i+1},$$

$$_{j,x}=_{Y,x}+_{X,x}^{j+1},$$

$$_{i+j+1,x}=_{Y,x}+_{X,x}^{i+j+2}.$$

By multiplying the two first we get

$`_{i,x}_{j,x}=_{Y,x}_{Y,x}+_{Y,x}_{X,x}^{j+1}+_{Y,x}_{X,x}^{i+1}+`$
$`+_{X,x}^{i+1}_{X,x}^{j+1}_{Y,x}+_{X,x}^{i+j+2}=_{i+j+1,x}.`$
The quotient

$$(_i_j+_{i+j+1}/_{i+j+1})$$

is thus an Ideal on $`Y_{i+j+1}`$ supported on $`B`$, and is therefore zero by the previous lemma. ∎

Because of the inclusions $`_X_j_{j+1}_j`$ we have another inclusion

$$_{j+1}/_X_j_j/_X_j,$$

which is an inclusion of $`𝒪_X`$-Modules. Define the $`𝒪_X`$-Module $`_j`$ as the cokernel of this map, so that we have a short exact sequence

(2)
$$0_{j+1}/_X_j_j/_X_j_j0.$$

###### Proposition 2.10.

There is an exact sequence of $`𝒪_Z`$-Modules

$$0i_{}(_j)𝒪_{Y_{j+1}}𝒪_{Y_j}0,$$

where $`i:XZ`$ is the inclusion.

###### Proof.

From the short exact sequence 2 we get

$$0_{j+1}_ji_{}(_j)0.$$

We place this in a larger diagram of $`𝒪_Z`$-Modules

Here the Snake Lemma shows that we get $`i_{}(_j)`$ in the upper right corner. ∎

###### Example 2.11 (Removing embedded components).

Consider a linear subspace $`^n^{n+2}=\mathrm{Proj}k[z_0,\mathrm{},z_n,x,y]`$ with ideal $`(x,y)`$. For a linear form $`L=a_0z_0+\mathrm{}+a_nz_n`$, there is a multiplicity four structure with ideal $`(x^2+Ly,y^2)`$. Intersecting this with the second infinitesimal neighbourhood of $`^n`$ we get $`(x^2+Ly,y^2,x^3)`$. This ideal has an embedded component, a $`^{n1}`$ with ideal $`(L,x,y)`$. Removing this embedded component gives us the ideal $`(x^2+Ly,xy,y^2)`$. Intersecting this with the first infinitesimal neighbourhood gives the ideal $`(Ly,x^2,xy,y^2)`$, which again has an embedded component. Removing this gives us $`(x^2,y)`$. Thus the ideals of the terms of the $`S_1`$-filtration are

$$(x,y)(x^2,y)(x^2+Ly,xy,y^2)(x^2+Ly,y^2).$$

###### Remark 2.12.

There are known criteria for when a double structure arises from the Ferrand construction. See for instance Manaresi,, where one can find the following example: If the original scheme $`X`$ is given, in projective space, by the ideal $`(x^6,y^6)`$, the scheme with ideal $`(x^9,y^8)`$ has twice the multiplicity of $`X`$ in each point but its ideal does not contain the monomial $`x^6y^6`$, and thus it does not contain the ideal $`(x^6,y^6)^2`$. This shows that there are, for some schemes, multiple structures that cannot be obtained via the Ferrand construction, even in the case of complete intersections. Also, reduced schemes with bad singularities can render the Ferrand construction insufficient. Our smoothness assumption is included to remove these problems, though much can be said in a more general setting.

If the ambient space is $`Z=^N`$, or if a projective embedding of $`Z`$ is fixed, one can compute Hilbert polynomials:

###### Proposition 2.13.

Assume $`Y`$ satisfies $`(S_1)`$. Then the Hilbert polynomial of $`Y`$ can be computed from the $`S_1`$-filtration as follows:

$$\mathrm{Hilb}(Y)=\mathrm{Hilb}(X)+\underset{j}{}\mathrm{Hilb}(_j).$$

###### Proof.

This follows readily from the exact sequences

$$0i_{}(_j)𝒪_{Y_{j+1}}𝒪_{Y_j}0,$$

the fact that

$$\mathrm{Hilb}_j=\mathrm{Hilb}i_{}_j,$$

that $`Y=Y_k`$ (see Remark 2.3) and the additivity of the Hilbert polynomial. ∎

###### Remark 2.14.

The basic theory presented in this section was first considered by Bǎnicǎ and Forster in  for curves, later generalized by Holme in  to higher dimensions. Manolache has also considered similar constructions. The $`S_1`$-filtration was considered by Bǎnicǎ and Forster for curves (then it is a Cohen-Macaulay filtration). They proved all results applicable to curves (except the computation of Hilbert polynomials) in that case. The idea to consider an $`S_1`$-filtration in higher dimensions is due to Holme. Also, the statements and proofs of Lemmas 2.8 and 2.9 are taken from Holme’s preprint . Compare also with the similar filtrations considered by Manolache, e.g. in .

### 2.2. Completions

In this section we will prove some results linking Cohen-Macaulay schemes and locally free sheaves. Because Cohen-Macaulay is a local condition, we can consider our schemes point by point, and use the properties of completion.

Let $`XYZ`$ be as before. From Sequence 2 and Proposition 2.10 there are short exact sequences linking the $`𝒪_X`$-Modules $`_j`$ to the structure sheaves and Ideals of terms of the $`S_1`$-filtration. We do not have an $`𝒪_X`$-Module structure on the terms $`𝒪_{Y_j}`$, even though they are all supported on $`X`$. On the other hand we can do the following:

* Localize to any point $`xX`$.
* Complete with respect to the maximal ideal $`𝔪_x𝒪_{Z,x}`$.

This gives an “infinitesimal Module structure” to these structure sheaves.

###### Remark 2.15.

In the classical topology, there are Module structures on multiple structures, coming from projections of tubular neighbourhoods. We are in a sense mimicking the results one might get from that construction. These techniques were used by Bǎnicǎ and Forster in  for curves.

Since $`X`$ and $`Z`$ are smooth, the structure map from $`\widehat{𝒪_{Z,x}}`$ to $`\widehat{𝒪_{X,x}}`$ admits a retraction, thus giving any $`\widehat{𝒪_{Z,x}}`$-module a structure of $`\widehat{𝒪_{X,x}}`$-module. By choosing a suitable set of coordinates, we can assume that

$$\widehat{𝒪_{Z,x}}k[[X_1,\mathrm{},X_N]],$$

$$\widehat{𝒪_{X,x}}k[[X_1,\mathrm{},X_n]].$$

For any scheme $`Y`$ such that $`XYX^{(k)}`$, the algebra $`\widehat{𝒪_{Y,x}}`$ becomes a finite $`\widehat{𝒪_{X,x}}`$-module, being a quotient of $`k[[X_1,\mathrm{},X_N]]/I^{k+1}`$, where $`I`$ is the ideal $`(X_{n+1},\mathrm{},X_N)`$.

By completion we have short exact sequences

$$0\widehat{(_{j+1}/_j)_x}\widehat{(_j/_j)_x}\widehat{(_j)_x}0$$

and

$$0\widehat{i_{}(_j)_x}\widehat{(𝒪_{Y_{j+1}})_x}\widehat{(𝒪_{Y_j})_x}0$$

of $`\widehat{𝒪_{X,x}}`$-modules, the latter consisting of $`\widehat{𝒪_{X,x}}`$-modules by virtue of the above lemma.

###### Lemma 2.16.

Let $`YZ`$ be a scheme with $`Y_{\mathrm{red}}=X`$. Then $`Y`$ is Cohen-Macaulay if and only if $`\widehat{𝒪_{Y,x}}`$ is a free $`\widehat{𝒪_{X,x}}`$-module for all points $`xX`$, of constant rank.

###### Proof.

The first remark is that a local ring is Cohen-Macaulay if and only if its completion is. Now $`\widehat{𝒪_{X,x}}`$ is a regular local ring, and the algebra $`\widehat{𝒪_{Y,x}}`$ is a finite $`\widehat{𝒪_{X,x}}`$-module. In this situation we have the following equivalences: $`\widehat{𝒪_{Y,x}}`$ is Cohen-Macaulay $``$ $`\widehat{𝒪_{Y,x}}`$ is a free $`\widehat{𝒪_{X,x}}`$-module $``$ $`\widehat{𝒪_{Y,x}}`$ is a projective $`\widehat{𝒪_{X,x}}`$-module $``$ the multiplicity of $`\widehat{𝒪_{Y,x}}`$ is constant over all the prime ideals of $`\widehat{𝒪_{X,x}}`$. The first equivalence is  Corollary 18.17 (which applies since $`\widehat{𝒪_{X,x}}`$ is considered as a subring of $`\widehat{𝒪_{Y,x}}`$), the second is because $`\widehat{𝒪_{X,x}}`$ is a regular local ring, the third is  Exercise 20.13. The part concerning constant rank is deduced because we can localize in the zero ideal of $`\widehat{𝒪_{X,x}}`$, complete it, and the resulting ring is independent of the chosen point $`x`$, being the completion of the local ring of the generic point. ∎

###### Remark 2.17.

This constant rank is equal to the multiplicity of $`Y`$. Indeed, we can define the multiplicity of any nilpotent scheme $`Y`$ with support $`X`$ to be the multiplicity of the Artin ring $`𝒪_{Y,\xi }`$, where $`\xi `$ is the generic point of $`X`$. This number is then equal to the rank of $`\widehat{𝒪_{Y,\xi }}`$ as an $`\widehat{𝒪_{X,\xi }}`$-module.

###### Proposition 2.18.

* If $`Y_j`$ is Cohen-Macaulay and $`_j`$ is locally free on $`X`$, then $`Y_{j+1}`$ is Cohen-Macaulay.
* If $`Y_j`$ and $`Y_{j+1}`$ are Cohen-Macaulay, then $`_j`$ is locally free on $`X`$.

###### Proof.

For $`a)`$, let $`xX`$ be any point. We need to show that $`𝒪_{Y_{j+1},x}`$ is a Cohen-Macaulay ring. A local ring is Cohen-Macaulay if and only if its completion is, so we are reduced to proving that $`\widehat{𝒪_{Y_{j+1},x}}`$ is Cohen-Macaulay. Now

$$0\widehat{i_{}(_j)_x}\widehat{(𝒪_{Yj1})_x}\widehat{(𝒪_{Y_j})_x}0$$

is a sequence of $`\widehat{𝒪_{X,x}}`$-modules. The leftmost is assumed free, the last one is free by Lemma 2.16. Thus the middle one is free also, and we can invoke the lemma again to conclude (note that the rank of all modules involved can be measured by localizing in the zero ideal. Thus we see that it is independent of the choice of the point $`x`$).

For part $`b)`$ the same exact sequence and the same lemma show that the rank of the sheaf $``$ is independent of the point $`xX`$, and that it is a free module in each point of $`X`$. Thus it is locally free. ∎

###### Remark 2.19.

This central proposition can also be proved without completions, using homological properties of Cohen-Macaulay rings. For details, see .

###### Proposition 2.20.

The $`\widehat{𝒪_{X,x}}`$-modules $`\widehat{𝒪_{Y_j,x}}`$ are torsion free.

###### Proof.

Let $`A=\widehat{𝒪_{X,x}},B=\widehat{𝒪_{Z,x}},C=\widehat{𝒪_{Y_j,x}},I_j=\widehat{(_j)_x},I=\widehat{(_X)_x}`$. Suppose there is a relation $`ac=0,0aA,cC`$. $`A`$ can be considered as a subring of $`B`$, and then $`aI`$. We need to show that $`c=0`$. Choose any element $`bB`$ that represents $`c`$, i.e. $`c=b\mathrm{mod}I_j`$. Then clearly

$$ac=0abI_i$$

and

$$abI_i,aIbI_i$$

since $`I_i`$ is $`I`$-primary. Thus $`c=b\mathrm{mod}I_i=0`$.

###### Corollary 2.21.

The $`𝒪_X`$-Modules $`_j`$ are torsion free.

###### Proof.

$`\widehat{((_j)_x)}`$ is a submodule of $`\widehat{𝒪_{Y_j,x}}`$, and is therefore torsion free. This means that the canonical map $`\widehat{((_j)_x)}\widehat{((_j)_x)^{}}`$ is injective. Since completion is exact and faithful and commutes with taking homomorphism groups the map $`(_j)_x(_j)_x^{}`$ is injective too. Thus $`(_j)_x`$ is torsion free. ∎

We end this section with a theorem that we will use a lot in applications of this theory. We give a partial order on subschemes of $`Z`$ by inclusion, and a partial order on quotients of a sheaf $``$ by the following rule: $`𝒦_1𝒦_2𝒦_2𝒦_1`$.

###### Theorem 2.22.

Let $`YZ`$ be a Cohen-Macaulay scheme with reduced subscheme $`X`$. There is a $`11`$ correspondence between locally free quotient $`𝒪_X`$-Modules of $`_Y/_Y_X`$ and Cohen-Macaulay schemes $`W`$ satisfying $`_Y_X_W_Y`$. This correspondence preserves the partial orders defined above. If there are surjections $`_Y/_Y_X𝒦_1𝒦_2`$ and $`W_i`$ corresponds to $`𝒦_i`$ then there is a surjection $`_{W_2}/_{W_2}_X(\mathrm{ker}(𝒦_1𝒦_2))`$.

###### Proof.

The first part can be proven along the same lines as Proposition 2.18, since the fact that the schemes involved are part of an $`S_1`$-filtration is not essential.

The second part follows from the first part if we show $`_Y/_Y_X𝒦_1𝒦_2W_2W_1`$, where $`W_i`$ is the scheme corresponding to $`_Y/_Y_X𝒦_i`$. This can easily be seen from the diagram of $`𝒪_X`$-Modules

Here $``$ can be defined as the kernel of the right hand map, and the Snake Lemma shows that $``$ also appears in the lower left corner. Thus the partial orders are preserved.

The last part can be deduced from the diagram above by considering the sequence of isomorphisms

$$\frac{_{W_2}/_Y_X}{_{W_1}/_Y_X}\frac{_{W_2}}{_{W_1}}\frac{_{W_2}/_{W_2}_X}{_{W_1}/_{W_2}_X}.$$

The first isomorphism is the Snake Lemma applied to the diagram above, the second is the classical Second Isomorphism Theorem. So is the third, noting that $`_{W_2}_X_{W_1}`$, which is the kernel of the surjection $`_{W_2}`$. ∎

###### Remark 2.23.

Note that many of the properties proven in this section can be deduced more easily in case $`X`$ is a linear subspace of $`Z=^N`$. In that case the projection from $`Z`$ minus a complementary subspace onto $`X`$ restricts to a map from each (embedded) multiple structure on $`X`$ onto $`X`$, and the various structure sheaves and quotients of such become $`𝒪_X`$-Modules. This can of course happen for other types of multiple structures as well. Thus it is natural to make the following definition.

###### Definition 2.24.

Generalizing  (page 723), we say that a multiple structure $`Y`$ on $`X`$ is a split  structure if the canonical inclusion $`XY`$ admits a retraction $`YX`$. By restriction, all terms $`Y_k`$ of the $`S_1`$-filtration will then also satisfy this condition.

###### Example 2.25.

Take any variety $`X`$ and any vector bundle $``$, form the total space $`E`$ (or its projective completion) and embed $`X`$ as the zero section. Any multiple structures on $`X`$ in this embedding is split, the retraction being the restriction of the projection map $`EX`$. For instance, all infinitesimal neighbourhoods of $`X`$ in this embedding split.

We end this chapter by computing some dualizing sheaves. Because of the smoothness conditions, the ambient space $`Z`$ has the dualizing sheaf $`\omega _Z`$, which is equal to the canonical sheaf, and similarly for $`X`$. Recall that (with $`c:=\mathrm{codim}(X,Z)`$)

$$\omega _Xxt_{𝒪_Z}^c(𝒪_X,\omega _Z),$$

and if $`Y`$ is a Cohen-Macaulay scheme whose reduced subscheme is $`X`$, then

$$\omega _Xom_{𝒪_Y}(𝒪_X,\omega _Y)$$

(see for instance ). Also, since $`X`$ is a locally complete intersection, we have an isomorphism

$$\omega _X^c𝒩_{X/Z}_{𝒪_Z}\omega _Z$$

and similarly for $`Y`$ in the case that $`Y`$ is a locally complete intersection. The following result on canonical Modules ties these together in the simplest case. This result was also presented by Bǎnicǎ and Forster for curves, and by Manolache in general.

###### Proposition 2.26.

Suppose $`Y`$ is a double structure on $`X`$, and a locally complete intersection. Let the thickening $`XY`$ be given by the sequence

$$0_Y/_X^2_X/_X^20$$

for an invertible sheaf $``$. Then there is an isomorpishm

$$\omega _Y|_X\omega _X^1.$$

###### Proof.

Note that

$$_Y/_Y^2|_X_Y/_Y_X$$

and consider the sequence

$$0_X^2/_Y_X_Y/_Y_X_Y/_X^20.$$

Splicing this to the sequence mentioned in the statement, and noting that $`^2(_X/_Y)^2_X^2/_X_Y`$ we get an exact sequence

$$0^2_Y/_Y_X_X/_X^20.$$

Taking the top exterior power (or determinant) of this sequence, we get

$$^2^c_X/_X^2^c_Y/_Y_X$$

which can be rewritten

$$^c𝒩_{Y/Z}|_X^c𝒩_{X/Z}.$$

Combining this with the two isomorphisms

$$\omega _X^c𝒩_{X/Z}_{𝒪_Z}\omega _Z$$

and

$$\omega _Y^c𝒩_{Y/Z}_{𝒪_Z}\omega _Z$$

we get

$$\omega _Y|_X\omega _X^1.$$

###### Remark 2.27.

Bǎnicǎ and Forster, as well as Holme, considered the notion of primitive structure. Basically, this is the following: assume $`X`$ is given (locally) by $`m=\mathrm{codim}X`$ equations $`f_1,\mathrm{},f_m`$. Then a primitive multiple structure $`Y`$ on $`X`$ is given (locally) by the equations $`f_1^l,f_2,\mathrm{},f_m`$. If the double substructure given by $`f_1^2,f_2,\mathrm{},f_m`$ corresponds to a sequence

$$0𝒥/_X^2_X/_X^20$$

then

$$\omega _Y|_X\omega _X^{(l1)}.$$

Also, each $`_j^j`$. See , and .

## 3.  Classification of multiple structures of low degree on linear subspaces of codimension two

In this chapter we present a list of embedded multiple structures supported on a linear subspace $`^n^{n+2}`$. Since the case of curves is very special, we will throughout assume $`n2`$. The list will contain all type I multiple structures up to and including multiplicity (=degree) five. For structures not of type I, the classification will be completed in the final section, up to degree four. Up to multiplicity four all structures were found by Manolache , and (with a small mistake) by Holme . The lists in this section where found in my Hovedfagsoppgave (Master’s thesis), , except for some small mistakes.

We will fix the following notation in this chapter.

###### Notation 3.1.

The fixed ambient space is $`^{n+2}=\mathrm{Proj}k[z_0,\mathrm{},z_n,x,y]`$. We denote by $`X:=^n=\mathrm{Proj}k[z_0,\mathrm{},z_n]^{n+2}`$ the linear subspace that is the support of the multiple structures, with ideal $`I=(x,y)S:=k[z_0,\mathrm{},z_n,x,y]`$ and Ideal $`𝒪_{^{n+2}}`$.

Now I wish to recall the exact statement we need for our inductive argument. It can be extracted from Proposition 2.18 and Theorem 2.22.

###### Proposition 3.2.

Let $`Y`$ be a multiple structure, $`Y_{\mathrm{red}}=X`$. Assume that all the $`Y_k`$ are Cohen-Macaulay. Then all the $`_k`$ are locally free sheaves, and we have short exact sequences

$$0𝒥_{k+1}/𝒥_k𝒥_k/𝒥_k_k0$$

for all $`k`$.

Thus, in order to construct multiple structures satisfying the conditions of the proposition, we can proceed inductively from multiple structures of lower multiplicity. For each $`k`$, all we need for the induction is to know which locally free quotients $`𝒥_k/𝒥_k`$ have.

###### Definition 3.3.

Recall that Cohen-Macaulay schemes satisfying the conditions of the proposition are said to be of type I. Throughout this chapter the term “multiple structures” refers to Cohen-Macaulay multiple structures of type I.

###### Remark 3.4.

A note about the list: we present representatives for the various projective equivalence classes, i.e. up to coordinate changes. Some of the representatives include an “undetermined” polynomial of a given degree (see e.g. the polynomial $`G`$ occuring in Proposition 3.5). By abuse of the term “projective equivalence” we don’t differ between various classes of these polynomials. Furthermore, we will use a modified version of the above proposition. Since a thickening corresponding to an $``$ which is an extension of locally free sheaves $`,`$ of lower rank is a composition of thickenings corresponding to the sheaves $`,`$, we will only consider $``$s that are not extensions. In our computations this usually ensures that each $``$ is an invertible sheaf.

### 3.1. Multiplicity one, two and three

In multiplicity one, there is only one multiple structure $`Y`$ with $`Y_{\mathrm{red}}=X`$, namely $`Y=X`$.

Using Proposition 3.2, we want exact sequences

$$0𝒥/^2/^20$$

where $``$ is an invertible sheaf. Note that $`/^2𝒪_X(1)^2`$ with “generators” $`x`$ and $`y`$. Since $`n2`$ $``$ has to be isomorphic to $`𝒪_X(1)`$. Thus $`𝒥/^2𝒪_X(1)`$, and $`J`$ is generated modulo $`I^2`$ by a polynomial of degree one. Up to linear equivalence, this can be taken to be $`y`$.

There is thus, up to linear equivalence, only one double structure $`Y`$ with $`Y_{\mathrm{red}}=X`$, and its ideal can be taken to be $`(y)+I^2=(x^2,y)`$.

For multiplicity three, we will use a general statement. Letting $`\nu =2`$ in the following proposition gives the multiplicity three case.

###### Proposition 3.5.

Let $`Y`$ be the $`\nu `$multiple structure with ideal $`K=(x^\nu ,y)`$, where $`\nu 2`$. There are, up to linear equivalence, three structures of multiplicity $`\nu +1`$ containing $`Y`$. Their ideals can be taken to be

* $`J_1=(x^{\nu +1},y)`$
* $`J_2=(x^\nu ,xy,y^2)`$
* $`J_3=(x^\nu +Gy,xy,y^2)`$

where $`Gk[z_0,\mathrm{},z_n]_{\nu 1}`$.

###### Proof.

Note that $`𝒦/𝒦𝒪_X(\nu )𝒪_X(1)`$ with “generators” $`x^\nu `$ and $`y`$. Thus there are only two possibilities for the invertible sheaf $``$ in the short exact sequence

$$0𝒥/𝒦𝒦/𝒦0,$$

namely $`𝒪_X(\nu )`$ and $`𝒪_X(1)`$. In the first case, $`𝒥/𝒦𝒪_X(1)`$ and thus $`J`$ is generated modulo $`IK`$ by a linear polynomial contained in $`K`$. This way we get the ideal $`J_1`$. In the second case $`𝒥/𝒦𝒪_X(\nu )`$, and $`J`$ is generated modulo $`IK`$ by a polynomial of degree $`\nu `$, contained in $`K`$. Call this polynomial $`F`$. Then $`F=ax^\nu +Gy`$, where $`a`$ is a scalar and $`G`$ is a polynomial of degree $`\nu 1`$. Note that since we include all of $`IK`$ in the ideal $`J`$ we can assume that $`Gk[z_0,\mathrm{},z_n]`$. If $`a0`$ we can rescale $`x`$ to get $`F=x^\nu +Gy`$, and we get the two ideals $`J_2,J_3`$ depending on whether $`G`$ is zero or not.

Consider the case $`a=0`$, so $`F=Gy`$. Let $`G=\mathrm{\Pi }G_i^{g_i}`$ be the factorization of $`G`$ in irreducible polynomials. For each $`i`$ we have

$$(J:yG/G_i^{g_i})=(x,y,G_i^{g_i})$$

which is a primary ideal for the prime ideal $`(x,y,G_i)`$. This is thus an embedded associated prime ideal for $`(F)+IK`$. Thus this ideal is not Cohen-Macaulay, and therefore excluded from our list. ∎

###### Remark 3.6.

There are a couple of remarks that should be made concerning the case $`a=0`$ in the above proof. One is that the problem can be spotted directly from the sequence

$$0𝒪_X(\nu )\stackrel{\left(\begin{array}{c}0\\ G\end{array}\right)}{}𝒪_X(\nu )𝒪_X(1)0.$$

Since the left map is the zero map from $`𝒪_X(\nu )`$ to $`𝒪_X(\nu )`$ and is multiplication by $`G`$ from $`𝒪_X(\nu )`$ to $`𝒪_X(1)`$, the only way such a sequence can be exact is if $``$ is a copy of $`𝒪_X(\nu )`$ and in addition a torsion part, namely the structure sheaf of the zero scheme of $`G`$, twisted by $`1`$. In particular, the left hand map does not occur in such a short exact sequence with $``$ locally free.

The other remark to be made is that one might consider removing the embedded components. Then the generator $`Gy`$ in the ideal has to be replaced by $`y`$ alone, and we find again the ideal $`J_1`$. This is no surprise; from the first remark we know that in this case $``$ would contain a copy of $`𝒪_X(\nu )`$. This piece alone will give the Ideal $`𝒥_1`$. In addition, $``$ has a torsion part which will add some embedded components to the ideal $`J_1`$.

Summarizing, we get

###### Theorem 3.7.

The type I structures on $`X`$ of multiplicity less than or equal to three are, up to linear equivalence:

$`(x,y)`$
$`(x^2,y)`$
$`(x^3,y)`$
$`(x^2,xy,y^2)`$
$`(x^2+z_0y,xy,y^2)`$
(the linear polynomial $`G`$ can be taken to be $`z_0`$ in the last structure).

### 3.2. Multiplicity four and five

Most of what follows can be constructed using exactly the same techniques as we used in the last section. There are some additional complications arising, and these are the only ones we will give proofs of. Full proofs can be found in . A rather interesting non-existence result is postponed to the next section.

###### Theorem 3.8.

The type I structures on $`X`$ of multiplicity four are, up to linear equivalence, the following:

$`(x^4,y)`$
$`(x^2,y^2)`$
$`(xy,x^2+y^2)`$
$`(x^3,xy,y^2)`$
$`(F_2y^2F_3xy,F_1y^2F_3x^2,F_1xyF_2x^2,x^3,x^2y,xy^2,y^3)`$
$`(x^3+Gy,xy,y^2)`$
$`(x^2+z_0y,y^2)`$
$`(x^2+xy+z_0y,y^2)`$
Here $`(F_2y^2F_3xy,F_1y^2F_3x^2,F_1xyF_2x^2,x^3,x^2y,xy^2,y^3)`$ only occurs if $`\mathrm{dim}X=2`$, in which case the polynomials $`F_ik[z_0,z_1,z_2]_s`$, $`s1`$ satisfy $`V_+(F_i)=\mathrm{}`$. $`G`$ is a polynomial of degree 2 in $`k[z_0,\mathrm{},z_n]`$. The pairs of structures $`(x^2,y^2)`$, $`(xy,x^2+y^2)`$ and $`(x^2+z_0y,y^2)`$,$`(x^2+xy+z_0y,y^2)`$ are linearly equivalent if the characteristic is different from two.

###### Remark 3.9.

Thus there are two new phenomena: we get more structures for low dimension (with an infinite number of different Hilbert polynomials), and the special features of characteristic two show up in the list.

First we will see how the characteristic enters into the analysis.

###### Proposition 3.10.

Starting with the multiple structure $`Y`$ with ideal $`K=(x^2,xy,y^2)`$, there are the following possibilities, up to linear equivalence, for a structure of multiplicity four (assuming $`\mathrm{dim}X3`$; there are additional structures if $`\mathrm{dim}X=2`$):

$`(x^3,xy,y^2)`$
$`(x^2,y^2)`$
$`(x^2+y^2,xy)`$
where the last two are linearly equivalent unless the characteristic is two.

###### Proof.

Note first that

$$𝒦/𝒦𝒪_X(2)^3$$

with “generators” $`x^2,xy,y^2`$. The only way to get a surjection from this sheaf onto an invertible sheaf $``$ is to choose $`𝒪_X(2)`$ (this is where the assumption $`\mathrm{dim}X3`$ is needed). Thus, in the short exact sequence

$$0𝒥/𝒦𝒦/𝒦0$$

the term $`𝒥/𝒦𝒪_X(2)^2`$; thus $`J`$ is generated, modulo $`IK`$, by two homogeneous polynomials of degree two, contained in $`K`$. Let these polynomials be

$$F_1:=a_1x^2+b_1xy+c_1y^2,\text{ }F_2:=a_2x^2+b_2xy+c_2y^2.$$

By replacing $`F_1`$ with $`F_1b_1/b_2F_2`$ (or renumbering the $`F_i`$ in case $`b_2=0`$) we can assume that $`b_1=0`$ (we are only interested in the ideal generated).

Now if both $`a_1=a_2=0`$, we get $`F_1=c_1y^2`$ and $`F_2=b_2xy+c_2y^2`$. Normalizing to $`c_1=b_2=1`$ and replacing $`F_2`$ with $`F_2c_2F_1`$ we get the ideal $`(xy,y^2)+IK=(x^3,xy,y^2)`$.

Assume $`a_1=1`$. Replacing $`F_2`$ by $`F_2a_2F_1`$ we can assume $`a_2=0`$. There are two cases to consider, namely $`c_1=0`$ and $`c_10`$ (in which case we can assume $`c_1=1`$ be rescaling $`y`$). These two cases turn out to give basically the same analysis, so we restrict our attention to the case $`c_1=0`$.

Thus we consider $`F_1=x^2`$ and $`F_2=b_2xy+c_2y^2`$. If either of $`b_2,c_2`$ is zero we get ideals $`(x^2,xy,y^3)`$ and $`(x^2,y^2)`$. So assume $`b_20c_2`$. Rescaling $`y`$ we can assume $`c_2=1`$. Then, rescaling $`x`$, we can assume $`b_2=1`$: now $`F_1=x^2,F_2=xy+y^2`$. If the characteristic is different from two, the ideal generated by $`F_1`$ and $`F_2`$ can be put in the form $`(x^2,y^2)`$ through a linear change of coordinates. Explicitly, let

$$\left(\begin{array}{c}z\\ w\end{array}\right)=\left(\begin{array}{cc}1& 0\\ 1/2& 1\end{array}\right)\left(\begin{array}{c}x\\ y\end{array}\right)$$

Then $`z^2=x^2`$ and $`w^2=1/4x^2+xy+y^2`$, and the ideal generated by these two squares is obivously the same as the ideal generated by $`F_1`$ and $`F_2`$. If the characteristic is two, however, this cannot be done. It is most easily seen if we try going the other way: starting from $`z^2,w^2`$ and making a linear change of coordinates, we get e.g. $`z^2=(ax+by)^2=a^2x^2+b^2y^2`$. Thus we can in no way get the monomial $`xy`$ as part of our generating polynomial. To get $`(F_1,F_2)`$ in the form from the statement, use $`xxy,yy`$.

The remaining choices of coordinates can easily be turned into one of the situations discussed above by quite obvious linear changes of coordinates. ∎

The next new phenomenon that enters is the presence of torsion in the sheaves $`𝒦/𝒦`$. The following proposition is a continuation of a part of Proposition 3.5:

###### Proposition 3.11.

Let $`Y`$ be the multiple structure on $`X`$ with ideal $`K=(x^\nu +Gy,xy,y^2)`$, where $`\nu 2`$. Then, in order to have a surjection from $`𝒦/𝒦`$ onto a locally free sheaf $``$, it is necessary and sufficient that $``$ is isomorphic to a direct summand of $`𝒪_X(\nu )𝒪_X(2)\mathrm{coker}(𝒪_X(2)\stackrel{y^2}{}𝒦/𝒦)`$. In particular, $`y^2`$ is always contained in the ideal of a simple thickening of $`Y`$.

###### Proof.

Note first that

$$IK=(x^{\nu +1}+Gxy,x^\nu y+Gy^2,x^2y,xy^2,y^3)=(x^{\nu +1}+Gxy,Gy^2,x^2y,xy^2,y^3).$$

The term $`Gy^2`$ tells us that the quotient sheaf $`𝒦/𝒦`$ has torsion. It is easy to write down a free resolution of this sheaf:

where the right hand map is the generator map.

Now giving a map from $`𝒦/𝒦`$ is equivalent to giving a map from $`𝒪_X(\nu )𝒪_X(2)^2`$ that composed with $`𝒪_X(\nu 1)𝒪_X(\nu )𝒪_X(2)^2`$ is zero. If the map goes to something locally free, the entire torsion subsheaf of $`𝒦/𝒦`$ has to be killed. This is equivalent to demanding that the last $`𝒪_X(2)`$-part is in the kernel of the map, and the map factors through the projection onto the first two summands $`𝒪_X(\nu )𝒪_X(2)`$. The only locally free quotients of this sheaf are its direct summands. ∎

###### Remark 3.12.

Note that, in this situation, $`𝒪_X(\nu )𝒪_X(2)`$ is isomorphic to the quotient of $`𝒦/𝒦`$ by its torsion subsheaf.

To give an example of how to get special structures in dimension two, we will give a more general result which, specialized to $`n=2`$, gives the example in question.

###### Proposition 3.13.

Consider $`X=^n^{n+2}`$ and $`Y=X^{(n1)}`$. Then there are infinitely many different Hilbert polynomials of thickenings of $`Y`$ to a structure of multiplicity one more than the multiplicity of $`Y`$. With one exception, none of these classes extends to Cohen-Macaulay multiple structures on $`^{n+1}^{n+3}`$.

###### Proof.

Letting $`K=(x,y)^n`$ be the ideal of $`Y`$, note that

$$𝒦/𝒦𝒪_X(n)^{n+1}$$

with “generators” $`x^n,x^{n1}y,\mathrm{},y^n`$. Now, choosing $`n+1`$ polynomials $`F_i`$ satisfying $`V_+(F_i)=\mathrm{}`$ of the same degree $`d`$, we get a short exact sequence

$$0𝒥/𝒦𝒦/𝒦𝒪_X(n+d)0$$

defining $`𝒥`$. The $`F_j`$ form a regular sequence, so the image of the map

$$(^2(𝒪_X(d)^{n+1}))(n+d)(𝒪_X(d)^{n+1})(n+d)𝒦/𝒦$$

coming from the (twisted) Koszul complex of the $`F_i`$ equals the sub-Module $`𝒥/𝒦`$. Thus we can easily write down generators for the ideal $`J`$:

$$J=(F_jx^{ni}y^iF_ix^{nj}y^j)_{0i<jn}+I^2.$$

Note that the Hilbert polynomial of $`V(𝒥)`$ only depends on the degree $`d`$. In fact, the Hilbert polynomial of $`Y=X^{(n1)}`$ is given by

$$\mathrm{Hilb}(Y)(t)=b_0+2b_1+3b_2+\mathrm{}+nb_{n1}$$

so

$$\mathrm{Hilb}(V(𝒥))(t)=b_0+2b_1+3b_2+\mathrm{}+nb_{n1}+b_{nd}$$

where

$$b_i(t):=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+ti}{n}\right)=\chi (𝒪_X(ti))=\mathrm{Hilb}(𝒪_X(i))(t).$$

In addition to the examples above, we can surject $`𝒦/𝒦`$ onto a direct summand $`𝒪_X(n)`$. The ideals $`J`$ arising in this way can of course be extended to higher dimensional spaces. All the others, if extended in the obvious way, will fail to be Cohen-Macaulay in the common zero locus of the $`F_i`$. ∎

###### Theorem 3.14.

The type I structures on $`X`$ of multiplicity five are, up to linear equivalence, the following:

$`(x^5,y)`$
$`(x^4,xy,y^2)`$
$`(x^3+z_0xy,x^2y,y^2)`$
$`(x^3,xy,y^3)`$
$`(x^3,x^2y,y^2)`$
$`(x^3+z_0y^2,xy,y^3)`$
$`(F_2y^2F_3xy,F_1y^2F_3x_3,F_1xyF_2x^3,x^4,xy^2,x^3y,y^3)`$
$`(P_1x^2+P_2xy+P_3y^2,x^3,x^2y,xy^2,y^3)`$
$`(x^3,x^2+y^2,y^3)`$
$`(x^4+G_1y,xy,y^2)`$
$`(x^3+G_2y,x^2y,y^2)`$
$`(x^3+z_0xy+G_3y,x^2y,y^2)`$
$`(x^2+z_0y,xy^2,y^3)`$
$`(x^2+z_0y+y^2,xy^2,y^3)`$
$`(x^3,x^2+y^2,y^3)`$
$`(x^2+y^2,x^2y,xy^2)`$
$`(x^2+xy+y^2,x^2y,xy^2)`$
$`(x^2+z_0y+xy+y^2,xy^2,y^3)`$
Here the last four are special variants in characteristic two. The $`F_ik[z_0,z_1,z_2]`$ satisfy $`\mathrm{deg}F_1=1+\mathrm{deg}F_2=1+\mathrm{deg}F_32`$ and $`V_+(F_i)=\mathrm{}`$; the structure $`(F_2y^2F_3xy,F_1y^2F_3x_3,F_1xyF_2x^3,x^4,xy^2,x^3y,y^3)`$ only occurs for $`\mathrm{dim}X=2`$. The $`P_ik[z_0,z_1,z_2]`$ are all of degree $`a21`$, and $`V_+(P_i)=\mathrm{}`$; the structure $`(P_1x^2+P_2xy+P_3y^2,x^3,x^2y,xy^2,y^3)`$ only occurs for $`\mathrm{dim}X=2`$. The $`G_i`$ are polynomials in $`z_0,\mathrm{},z_n`$, $`\mathrm{deg}G_1=3`$, $`\mathrm{deg}G_2=\mathrm{deg}G_3=2`$.

###### Remark 3.15.

The proof of this theorem contains no new techniques compared with the techniques introduced for lower multiplicities, with two exceptions. There is a multiplicity four structure that cannot be thickened to a multiplicity five structure. The proof of this fact occupies the next section. There is a multiplicity five structure built directly on a multiplicity three structure in dimension two. The rest of the proof of the theorem is just tedious (but not totally trivial) calculation, and can be found in .

###### Proposition 3.16.

Let $`Y`$ be the multiple structure on $`X=^2`$ with ideal $`(x^2,xy,y^2)`$. Then there is a multiplicity five structure containing $`Y`$, without any intermediate Cohen-Macaulay multiplicity four structure. The ideal of $`Y`$ can be taken to be $`(P_1x^2+P_2xy+P_3y^2,x^3,x^2y,xy^2,y^3)`$.

###### Proof.

For any positive integer $`a`$ there is a short exact sequence

$$0𝒪(a2)𝒪(2)^3𝒬0$$

for a bundle $`𝒬`$ of rank two. The left hand map is given by three polynomials $`P_1,P_2,P_3`$ of the same degree $`a2`$. The image thus corresponds to the polynomial $`P_1x^2+P_2xy+P_3y^2`$. Together with the generators of $`(x,y)^3`$, this polynomial generates the ideal of $`Z`$. There is no intermediate multiplicity four structure because $`𝒬`$ is not an extension of line bundles. ∎

###### Remark 3.17.

This proposition fills a gap from .

###### Remark 3.18.

So far we have only seen special features in characteristic two. The main point was that, using linear transformations, the cross-term $`xy`$ can neither appear nor disappear. Similar problems arise in other characteristics, but then the multiplicity must be larger. To show how this happens, we consider an explicit example:

###### Example 3.19.

Let $`Y`$ be the multiple structure on $`X`$ with ideal $`K=(x^3,x^2y,xy^2,y^3)`$. Then $`𝒦/𝒦𝒪_X(3)^4`$. Consider a short exact sequence

$$0𝒥/𝒦𝒦/𝒦𝒪_X(3)^20.$$

Thus the ideal $`J`$ will be generated, modulo $`IK`$, by two polynomials of degree three. Assume $`J=(x^3,ax^2y+bxy^2+y^3)+IK`$, where the scalars $`a`$ and $`b`$ are both non-zero. In characteristic different from three, this can be changed to an ideal of the form $`(z^3,w^3)+IK`$ through a linear change of coordinates. This cannot be done in characteristic three.

###### Remark 3.20.

The example can easily be generalized to any given characteristic $`p>0`$.

### 3.3. A non-existence result

In this section we show that there is no multiplicity five structure on $`X`$ containing the multiplicity four structure with ideal $`J:=(F_2y^2F_3xy,F_1y^2F_3x^2,F_1xyF_2x^2,x^3,x^2y,xy^2,y^3)`$. The precise result is the following:

###### Proposition 3.21.

There is no surjection

$$𝒥/𝒥0$$

for any invertible sheaf $``$ on $`X`$. In particular, $`V(𝒥)`$ cannot be thickened to a Cohen-Macaulay multiplicity five structure.

###### Proof.

Note that

$`IJ=(x^4,x^3y,x^2y^2,xy^3,y^4,`$
$`x(F_2y^2F_3xy),x(F_1y^2F_3x^2),x(F_1xyF_2x^2)`$
$`y(F_2y^2F_3xy),y(F_1y^2F_3x^2),y(F_1xyF_2x^2)).`$
Let us first of all calculate the rank of $`𝒥/𝒥`$. This is

$$\mathrm{dim}_{K(X)}(𝒥/𝒥)_\xi $$

where $`K(X)=𝒪_{X,\xi }`$ is the function field of $`X`$; the local ring of the generic point $`\xi `$. Over this field the $`F_i`$ are invertible, and we can define $`f_1=F_1/F_3,f_2=F_2/F_3`$. There are relations

$`f_2xy^2=x^2y`$
$`f_1xy^2=x^3`$
$`f_1/f_2x^2y=x^3`$
$`f_2y^3=xy^2`$
$`f_1y^3=yx^2`$
$`f_1/f_2xy^2=yx^2`$
Thus the four generators $`x^3,x^2y,xy^2,y^3`$ only contribute with one towards the rank of $`𝒥/𝒥`$. The remaining three generators, divided by $`F_3`$, are $`f_2y^2xy,f_1y^2x^2,f_1xyf_2x^2`$. They are related by the following $`K(X)`$-linear relation:

$$f_1(f_2y^2xy)+(f_1xyf_2x^2)=f_2(f_1y^2x^2).$$

They give a contribution of two towards the rank. Thus,

$$\mathrm{rank}𝒥/𝒥=3.$$

Next, we want a free presentation of this sheaf. The first part is of course the generator map

$$\psi :𝒪_X(3)^4𝒪_X(s2)^3𝒥/𝒥,$$

i.e. $`\psi `$ is given by

$$\psi =(x^3,x^2y,xy^2,y^3,F_2y^2F_3xy,F_1y^2F_3x^2,F_1xyF_2x^2).$$

Because of the calculation above, over $`K(X)`$, we expect that the kernel of $`\psi `$ has rank four. This will split in two components, one of rank three from the term $`𝒪_X(3)^4`$, and one of rank one from $`𝒪_X(s2)^3`$. Precisely, let $`𝒦:=\mathrm{ker}\psi `$, $`𝒦_1:=𝒦𝒪_X(s2)^3,𝒦_2:=𝒦𝒪_X(3)^4`$. $`𝒦_i`$ can also be described as the kernels of $`\psi `$ composed with the canonical injections. Let these maps be denoted by $`\psi _i`$.

The kernel of $`\psi _1`$ can be represented by

$$\text{}.$$

This gives rise to an exact sequence

$$\text{}.$$

For the kernel of $`\psi _2`$, we have a diagram

where the $`4\times 6`$ matrix $`B`$ is given by

$$B=\left(\begin{array}{cccccc}0& F_3& F_2& 0& 0& 0\\ F_3& 0& F_1& 0& F_3& F_2\\ F_2& F_1& 0& F_3& 0& F_1\\ 0& 0& 0& F_2& F_1& 0\end{array}\right)$$

which expresses the relations

$`x(F_2y^2F_3xy)0(\mathrm{mod}IJ)`$
$`x(F_1y^2F_3x^2)0(\mathrm{mod}IJ)`$
$`x(F_1xyF_2x^2)0(\mathrm{mod}IJ)`$
$`y(F_2y^2F_3xy)0(\mathrm{mod}IJ)`$
$`y(F_1y^2F_3x^2)0(\mathrm{mod}IJ)`$
$`y(F_1xyF_2x^2)0(\mathrm{mod}IJ)`$
This gives an exact sequence

$$\text{}.$$

All in all we get a free presentation

$`\varphi `$ is given by

$$\varphi =\left(\begin{array}{ccccccc}0& F_3& F_2& 0& 0& 0& 0\\ F_3& 0& F_1& 0& F_3& F_2& 0\\ F_2& F_1& 0& F_3& 0& F_1& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& F_2& F_1& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 0& 0& 0& F_1\\ 0& 0& 0& 0& 0& 0& F_2\\ 0& 0& 0& 0& 0& 0& F_3\end{array}\right).$$

Now giving a surjection $`𝒥/𝒥`$, for an invertible sheaf $``$, is equivalent to giving a surjection $`\lambda :𝒪_X(3)^4𝒪_X(s2)^3`$ which, composed with $`\varphi `$, is zero. Let $`\lambda =(l_1,\mathrm{},l_7)`$. Then

$`\lambda \varphi =(F_3l_2+F_2l_3,F_3l_1+F_1l_3,F_2l_1+F_1l_2,F_3l_3+F_2l_4,`$
$`F_3l_2+F_1l_4,F_2l_2+F_1l_3,F_1l_5F_2l_6+F_3l_7)=(0,\mathrm{},0)`$
Since the matrix $`B`$ (the upper left block of $`\varphi `$) has full rank ($`=4`$), we see that $`l_1=l_2=l_3=l_4=0`$. Thus $`l_5,l_6`$ and $`l_7`$ must give the surjection in question. But these satisfy the relation $`F_1l_5F_2l_6+F_3l_7=0`$, so the map $`𝒪_X(s2)^3`$ factors through the cokernel of $`(F_1,F_2,F_3):𝒪_X(2s2)𝒪_X(s2)^3`$, and this rank two cokernel (being non-split) has no invertible quotient. Thus there is no such surjection. This concludes the proof of the proposition. ∎

###### Remark 3.22.

The proof actually shows that we cannot get any structure of the proposed type for higher dimensions as well.

###### Remark 3.23.

There is, however, a surjection onto a locally free sheaf of rank two (the cokernel of the map $`(F_1,F_2,F_3)`$ occuring in the proof), showing that there is a thickening to a scheme of multiplicity six.

## 4. Applications in projective geometry: splittings of bundles and complete intersections

Let $`XP`$ be a regular embedding of smooth varieties, with normal bundle $`𝒩`$ and Ideal $``$. Then $`𝒩^{}/^2`$. Thus if we have a quotient $``$ of the conormal bundle we can define a new scheme $`Y`$ with Ideal $`𝒥`$ as follows:

$$𝒥:=\mathrm{ker}(𝒩^{}).$$

Obviously, $`^2𝒥`$, so $`Y`$ is contained in $`X^{(1)}`$, the first infinitesimal neighbourhood of $`X`$ in $`P`$. If $``$ is a bundle, then $`Y`$ is a Cohen-Macaulay scheme. We will primarily focus on the case $`P=^N`$.

### 4.1. Hartshorne’s Conjecture

A natural question is whether interesting properties of the bundle $``$ is reflected in the geometry of the scheme $`Y`$. Recall the well known conjectures

###### Conjecture 4.1 (Hartshorne’s Conjecture in codimension two).

Any smooth variety $`X`$ of codimension two in a projective space $`^N`$ of dimension at least six is a complete intersection.

###### Conjecture 4.2 (The rank two bundle conjecture).

Any vector bundle of rank two on a projective space $`^N`$ of dimension at least six splits.

Now consider a conjecture expressed entirely in terms of multiple structures of degrees two and three:

###### Conjecture 4.3 (Conjecture on triple linear schemes).

Consider a linear subspace $`^N^{N+M}`$ of dimension $`N6`$ and (arbitrary) codimension $`M`$, and a degree three Cohen-Macaulay scheme $`Y`$ satisfying

$$^NY(^N)^{(1)}.$$

Then there exists a degree two Cohen-Macaulay scheme $`Z`$ such that

$$^NZY.$$

###### Theorem 4.4.

These three conjectures are equivalent for each $`N`$.

###### Proof.

The equivalence of Hartshorne’s Conjecture and the Rank two Bundle Conjecture is well known: a smooth subvariety of codimension two in $`^N,N6`$ is subcanonical, which implies that its normal bundle extends to the ambient space. This bundle is split if and only if the variety is a complete intersection. Also, given any bundle of rank two, sufficiently high twists of it will have smooth sections.

Now consider a setup as in the Conjecture on triple linear schemes. There is a short exact sequence

$$0_Y/_X^2_X/_X^20$$

where $`X=^N^{N+M}`$. According to Proposition 2.18 $`Y`$ is Cohen-Macaulay if and only if $``$ is locally free. By Theorem 2.22 there is a $`11`$ correspondence between Cohen-Macaulay schemes $`Z`$ satisfying

$$XZY$$

and locally free sheaves $``$ such that there is a surjection

$$.$$

In this case, if both inclusions are strict, $`Z`$ has to be of degree two and $``$ has to be invertible. Thus the kernel of $``$ is also invertible, so $``$ splits as the sum of these two bundles. The $`11`$ correspondence says that we can also go the other way; a splitting of $``$ produces $`Z`$. The only thing left to show is that any bundle of rank two appears in such a sequence, or rather that a twist of it does.

To see this, for a given $``$, replace it by a sufficiently high twist so that $`(1)`$ is generated by global sections. Let $`M=h^0((1))`$, and embed $`X=^N^{N+M}`$ as a linear subspace. Then the conormal bundle of $`X^{N+M}`$ satisfies

$$_X/_X^2𝒪_X(1)^M𝒪_X(1)H^0((1))$$

where the right hand map is the global section map twisted by $`1`$. Thus we get a sequence of the kind we need. ∎

###### Remark 4.5.

We can also make a similar conjecture for some special multiple structures on a linear subspace of codimension two, which again will be equivalent to Hartshorne’s Conjecture. The degree, however, will be very much larger. Explicitly, consider a vector bundle $``$ on $`^N`$, and assume that it is globally generated by its $`M=h^0()`$ sections. Restricting the conormal sheaf of the $`(M2)`$nd infinitesimal neighbourhood of $`^N`$ in $`^{N+2}`$ to $`^N`$, we get $`𝒪_^N((M1))^M`$, and $`((M1))`$ is a quotient of this bundle. We can now proceed as above to prove that Hartshorne’s Conjecture is equivalent to the following conjecture:

###### Conjecture 4.6.

Consider $`^N`$, $`N6`$, as a linear subspace of codimension two in $`^{N+2}`$. Assume that $`Y`$ is a Cohen-Macaulay scheme satisfying

$$(^N)^{(M)}Y(^N)^{(M+1)}$$

such that the degree of $`Y`$ is equal to the degree of $`(^N)^{(M)}+2`$. Then there is a Cohen-Macaulay scheme $`Z`$ of degree equal to the degree of $`(^N)^{(M)}+1`$ with

$$(^N)^{(M)}ZY.$$

###### Remark 4.7.

These two conjectures on multiple structures consider “extreme” invariants: low degree and low codimension. The following more general conjecture can be proven to be equivalent to Hartshorne’s Conjecture in exactly the same way:

###### Conjecture 4.8.

Consider a linear subspace $`X=^N^{N+M}`$ of dimension $`N6`$. Let $`W`$ be a Cohen-Macaulay multiple monomial scheme with $`W_{\mathrm{red}}=X`$, and let $`Y`$ be a Cohen-Macaulay multiple scheme satisfying

$$_W_X_Y_W$$

and $`\mathrm{deg}Y=\mathrm{deg}W+2`$. Then there exists a Cohen-Macaulay scheme $`Z`$, of degree equal to $`\mathrm{deg}W+1`$, such that

$$WZY.$$

###### Remark 4.9.

Any counter-example to any of these statements for $`N5`$ also produces a non-split bundle of rank two.

###### Remark 4.10.

It is well known that any bundle of rank $`r`$ on $`^N`$ is a quotient of a sum of $`N+r`$ line bundles. Thus in order to prove Hartshorne’s conjecture, it would be sufficient to classify triple Cohen-Macaulay schemes on a linear subspace $`X`$ of dimension six in $`^14`$, contained in the first infinitesimal neighbourhood. If Hartshorne’s conjecture holds, the only ones are of the following form:

If a given rank two bundle splits, the sequence defining its triple structure would be

$$0/_X^2_X/_X^2𝒪(1)^8𝒪(a)𝒪(b)0$$

where the right hand map is given by a full-rank matrix

$$\left(\begin{array}{cccccccc}f_0& f_1& f_2& f_3& f_4& f_5& f_6& f_7\\ g_0& g_1& g_2& g_3& g_4& g_5& g_6& g_7\end{array}\right)$$

Let $`I_X=(x_0,\mathrm{},x_7)`$ and $`M_{ij}=f_ig_jf_jg_i`$ for all $`i>j`$. Then the ideal $`I`$ can be computed from the above as

$$I=(x_kM_{ij}x_jM_{ik}+x_iM_{jk})+I_X^2,\text{ }7i>j>k0.$$

Because of the link with bundles of rank two, we are interested in schemes of degree three. For reduced, equidimensional schemes there is a short list of examples. One might wonder how these possible schemes of degree three compare with the reduced schemes; this question is considered in Section 4.3.

The last part of the proof of Theorem 4.4 can be generalized to a much wider setting, though the small degree part is removed (as well as the condition that $`(1)`$ is generated by global sections):

###### Proposition 4.11.

Let $``$ be a bundle on a projective variety $`X`$. Then there is a projective embedding $`i:X^N`$ with normal bundle $`𝒩_i`$, and a surjection $`𝒩_i^{}`$.

###### Proof.

Let $`\pi :(^{}𝒪_X)X`$ be the projective completion of the total space of the bundle $`^{}`$. The normal bundle of the zero section $`s`$, $`𝒩_s`$, is isomorphic to $`^{}`$. The projective completion is again a projective variety, and can thus be embedded $`j:(^{}𝒪_X)^N`$. Define $`i=js`$. We have a short exact sequence (see , Proposition VII.1.7. The $`𝒩`$ there is our $`𝒩^{}`$.)

$$0s^{}𝒩_j^{}𝒩_i^{}𝒩_s^{}0.$$

But $`𝒩_s^{}`$. ∎

There is a way of doing this more directly for an already (regularly) embedded variety $`i:X^N`$, but this again requires $`(1)`$ to be globally generated. Let $`𝒩`$ be the normal bundle of $`i`$.

###### Proposition 4.12.

If $``$ is a bundle on $`X`$ such that $`(1)`$ is generated by global sections, then there is a further embedding $`X\stackrel{i}{}^N\stackrel{j}{}^{N+M}`$, where $`j`$ is a linear embedding, such that $``$ is a quotient of the conormal bundle of $`ji`$.

###### Proof.

Note first that the normal bundle of $`^N`$ in $`^{N+M}`$ is isomorphic to $`𝒪(1)^M`$. We have an exact sequence

$$0𝒩𝒩_{X/^{N+M}}i^{}𝒩_{^N/^{N+M}}0.$$

We want to show that this sequence splits. Using induction, we can assume $`M=1`$. Since the normal bundle depends only on a neighbourhood of the embedded variety, and because $`𝒩_{^N/^{N+1}}𝒪(1)`$, this exact sequence is equivalent to

$$0𝒩𝒩_{X/^{N+1}\{P\}}𝒪_X(1)0$$

where $`P^{N+1}^N`$ is a point. We thus have a retraction $`p:^{N+1}\{P\}^N`$. Since $`pji=i`$, a regular embedding, we have the sequence (see  B 7.5.)

$$0(ji)^{}𝒯_{^{N+1}\{P\}/^N}𝒩_{X/^{N+1}\{P\}}𝒩0.$$

This is easily seen to give a splitting of the sequence above. Thus

$$𝒩_{X/^{N+M}}𝒩𝒪_X(1)^M.$$

Choose $`M=h^0((1))`$, so that we have a morphism

$$𝒪_X^M\mathrm{H}^0((1))𝒪_X\stackrel{\alpha (1)}{}(1)$$

and thus

$$𝒩_{X/^{N+M}}^{}𝒩^{}𝒪_X(1)^M\stackrel{(0,\alpha )}{}$$

as claimed. ∎

###### Definition 4.13 (The multiple structure associated to a bundle).

Let us first consider the case $`X=^N`$, with a bundle $``$ such that $`(1)`$ is globally generated. The following multiple structure $`Y`$ will be called the multiple structure associated to $``$: Embed $`^N^{N+M}`$ as a linear subspace, $`M=h^0((1))`$. Then $``$ is a quotient of the conormal bundle $`𝒩^{}/^2`$. The Ideal $`𝒥`$ defined by

$$𝒥:=\mathrm{ker}(/^2)$$

defines a Cohen-Macaulay scheme $`Y`$, with $`Y_{\mathrm{red}}=^N`$. This is the scheme constructed, for $``$ of rank two, in the proof of Theorem 4.4.

In general, for an embedded scheme $`X^N`$, and $``$ as above, we define $`𝒥`$ and $`Y`$ in the same manner, but using the construction from Proposition 4.12. Note that this reduces to the above in case $`X=^N`$.

This notion behaves well under the operation direct sum, and also under restriction if some extra conditions are met. We assume throughout that $`(1)`$ is a globally generated bundle on $`X^N`$. Thus the multiple scheme associated to $``$ is defined.

###### Theorem 4.14.

Suppose $``$ splits as a sum of two bundles $`_1_2`$. Then the embedding and the multiple scheme associated to $``$ are the cofibered coproduct of the embeddings and multiple schemes associated to $`_1`$ and $`_2`$.

###### Proof.

Define $`M_i=h^0(_i(1)),M=M_1+M_2=h^0((1))`$. There is a diagram of inclusions

Obviously, the inner square is Cartesian, as well as the upper and left squares. To see that the right square is Cartesian, we need to show that $`Y^{N+M_1}=Y_1`$ as subschemes of $`^{N+M}`$. Let $`,𝒥,𝒥_1`$ be the Ideals of $`X,Y,Y_1`$ in $`𝒪_{^{N+M}}`$. We need to show that $`J_1=J+I_{^{N+M_1}/^{N+M_1+M_2}}`$, and since both sides contain $`I^2`$, it will suffice to show equality modulo this ideal. By the proof of Proposition 4.12 $`/^2𝒩^{}𝒪_X(1)^{M_1}𝒪_X(1)^{M_2}`$. Then we have a short exact sequence

$$0𝒥_1/^2/^2_10,$$

or, using the splitting of $`/^2`$,

$$0𝒥_1/^2𝒩^{}𝒪_X(1)^{M_1}𝒪_X(1)^{M_2}_10.$$

Since the right hand map splits as the sum of two zero maps and a surjection $`\alpha _1:𝒪_X(1)^{M_1}_1`$, we get an isomorphism

$$𝒥_1/^2𝒩^{}\mathrm{ker}\alpha _1𝒪_X(1)^{M_2}.$$

Likewise

$$𝒥/^2𝒩^{}\mathrm{ker}\alpha _1\mathrm{ker}\alpha _2.$$

Thus we see that the difference in the generating sets of the ideals $`J`$ and $`J_1`$ is just the linear polynomials in the $`𝒪_X(1)^{M_2}`$ part, which are the generators for the ideal $`I_{^{N+M_1}/^{N+M_1+M_2}}`$. The proof that the right hand square is Cartesian is complete.

The lower square is thus Cartesian by symmetry. Since all the small squares are Cartesian, the outer square must be Cartesian as well. The proof is complete. ∎

###### Theorem 4.15.

Let $``$ be a bundle on $`Z`$, $`XZ^N`$ smooth schemes and regular embeddings. Assume $`(1)`$ is globally generated on $`Z`$, and that the canonical map $`H^0((1))H^0((1)|_X)`$ is surjective (e.g. if $`\mathrm{H}^1((1)_{X/Z})=0`$). Then the multiple scheme associated to $`|_X`$ is the intersection of the multiple scheme associated with $``$ and the cone over $`X`$ (in the embedding of $`^N^{N+M}`$ associated to $``$). This intersection is contained in a linear subspace of codimension $`h^0((1)_{X/Z})`$.

###### Proof.

Note first that the conditions imply that

$$0\mathrm{H}^0((1)_{X/Z})\mathrm{H}^0((1))\mathrm{H}^0((1)|_X)0$$

is exact.

When taking the multiple scheme associated with $`(1)`$ we choose a basis for $`\mathrm{H}^0((1))`$ and use this basis as a new set of variables, generating the ideal of $`^N`$ in $`^{N+M}`$, where $`M=h^0((1))`$. Let $`,𝒥`$ be the Ideals of $`X,Z`$ in $`^{N+M}`$. Choose a vector space splitting $`\mathrm{H}^0((1))\mathrm{H}^0((1)_{X/Z})\mathrm{H}^0((1)|_X)`$. Consider the two sequences

$$0^{}/^2𝒩_{Z/^N}^{}\mathrm{H}^0((1))𝒪_Z(1)0$$

and

$$0𝒥^{}/𝒥^2𝒩_{X/^N}^{}(\mathrm{H}^0((1)_{|X})\mathrm{H}^0((1)_{X/Z}))𝒪_X(1)|_X0.$$

Clearly the kernel of the lower sequence is generated by the conormal bundle of $`X`$ in $`^N`$ (corresponding to the ideal of the cone over $`X`$) and the kernel of the upper sequence (intersecting with the scheme associated to $``$). The term $`\mathrm{H}^0((1)_{X/Z})𝒪_X(1)`$ in the lower sequence tells us that there are $`h^0((1)_{X/Z})`$ linear polynomials in the ideal. The remaining equations are the equations of the scheme associated to $`|_X`$ in the embedding associated to $`|_X`$.

### 4.2. Extensions and splittings of bundles; the first infinitesimal neighbourhood

In this section we will generalize the discussion about Hartshorne’s Conjecture to include a much wider class of questions concerning the splittings and extensions of bundles. We will also give some examples, including equations for the scheme associated to the Horrocks-Mumford bundle.

We let $``$ be a bundle on $`^N`$, of rank $`r`$, such that $`(1)`$ is globally generated. Define $`M=h^0((1))`$ and let $`Y`$ be the scheme associated to $``$; there is a sequence

$$0_Y/_X^2_X/_X^20$$

where all Ideals are Ideals in $`𝒪_{^{N+M}}`$.

###### Theorem 4.16.

Suppose $`N2`$. The bundle $``$ splits as a sum of line bundles if and only if there is a sequence of subschemes

$$X=^NZ_1Z_2\mathrm{}Z_{r1}Y$$

where each $`Z_i`$ is a Cohen-Macaulay scheme, and the degree of $`Z_i`$ is $`i+1`$.

###### Proof.

For each $`Z_i`$ define the locally free $`𝒪_X`$-Module $`_i`$, of rank $`i`$, by

$$0_{Z_i}/_X^2_X/_X^2_i0.$$

By Theorem 2.22, there is a sequence of surjective maps (or a cofiltration of $``$)

$$_r_{r1}\mathrm{}_1$$

where the kernel of each map is an invertible sheaf,

$$0_i_i_{i1}0.$$

Since $`N2`$, all $`\mathrm{Ext}_{𝒪_^N}^1(𝒢_1,𝒢_2)=0`$ for invertible sheaves $`𝒢_1,𝒢_2`$. Especially, the sequence

$$0_2_2_10$$

splits. Inductively we get

$$_i_{ji}_j$$

(where $`M_1:=_1`$) from the exact sequence

$$0_i_i_{i1}0$$

and

$$\mathrm{Ext}^1(_{i1},_i)\mathrm{Ext}^1(_{ji1}_j,_i)_{ji1}\mathrm{Ext}^1(_j,_i)=0.$$

Thus

$$_i.$$

The opposite implication can be shown by reversing this argument, again using Theorem 2.22 to conclude. ∎

One of the difficulties inherent in this theory is that the codimension must be rather large if we want interesting examples. For instance

###### Proposition 4.17.

Let $`^N`$ be linearly embedded in $`^{N+M}`$, $`MN`$, and let there be given a Cohen-Macaulay nilpotent scheme $`Y`$ with support equal to this $`^N`$, contained in the first infinitesimal neighbourhood. Then $`Y`$ has a Cohen-Macaulay subscheme with the same support, of degree one less.

###### Proof.

This is a consequence of a result of Faltings’ , which states (among other things) that a surjection from a free $`𝒪_^N`$-Module of rank $`N`$ onto a locally free Module is split. ∎

Thus the first interesting case is $`^2^5`$, since all bundles on $`^1`$ split.

###### Example 4.18.

Consider the embedding of $`X=^2^5`$. To find interesting examples of Cohen-Macaulay multiple structures of degree three, we need bundles of rank two that are quotients of $`𝒪_X(1)^3`$. We start with the dual situation; more precisely we have a short exact sequence

$$0𝒬𝒪_X(1)^3𝒪_X(a+2)0,$$

where $`a0`$ and the last map is given by three homogeneous polynomials $`f_1,f_2,f_3`$ of degree $`a+1`$ in the variables $`z_0,z_1,z_2`$. The surjectivity of the map is equivalent to the condition $`V_+(f_i)=\mathrm{}`$. $`𝒬`$ is the kernel of this map, a bundle of rank two. We dualize the above sequence to get

$$0𝒪_X(a2)𝒪_X(1)^30,$$

$`=𝒬^{}`$. Now the first map is given by $`1(f_1e_1,f_2e_2,f_3e_3)^t`$, where $`1`$ is a basis for $`𝒪_X(a2)`$ and the $`e_i`$ are a basis for $`𝒪_X(1)^3`$.

In our situation, we fit this into our standard sequence

$$0_Y/_X^2_X/_X^20.$$

The basis element $`e_i`$ corresponds to the monomial $`x_i`$ in $`I_X`$. Obviously, $`(1)`$ is globally generated by three sections, whereas $``$ is not globally generated (in fact, $``$ doesn’t have any global sections). The ideal of $`Y`$ is given by the equations

$$I_Y=(f_1x_1+f_2x_2+f_3x_3,(x_1,x_2,x_3)^2).$$

Compare this example with the multiplicity five structure from Proposition 3.16.

###### Remark 4.19.

Note that there is no other Cohen-Macaulay triple structure on $`^2^5`$ that is contained in $`(^2)^{(1)}`$, without a double Cohen-Macaulay substructure.

###### Example 4.20 (The split case).

This example will shed light on Proposition 4.17, Theorem 4.14 and Conjecture 4.3.

Consider the following setup:

Let $`X=^n^{n+m}`$ be the linear embedding associated to $`𝒪_X(a)𝒪_X(b),a,b0`$ by the above method (the case $`a=1`$ being simpler). In particular, $`m=h^0((1))`$. Then the corresponding multiplicity 3 structure has equations

$$(x_{I_1}z^{I_2}x_{I_3}z^{I_4},x_{J_1}z^{J_2}x_{J_3}z^{J_4},(x_I,x_J)^2)|I_1+I_2=I_3+I_4,J_1+J_2=J_3+J_4$$

where $`X`$ has coordinates $`z_0,\mathrm{},z_n`$, $`z^I:=z_0^{i_0}\mathrm{}z_n^{i_n}`$ for the $`n+1`$-tuple $`I=(i_0,\mathrm{},i_n)`$ of weight $`I=\mathrm{\Sigma }i_l=a+1`$, $`z^J:=z_0^{j_0}\mathrm{}z_n^{j_n}`$ for the $`n+1`$-tuple $`I=(j_0,\mathrm{},j_n)`$ of weight $`J=\mathrm{\Sigma }j_l=b+1`$ and the ideal $`I`$ of $`X`$ is generated by the $`x_I`$ and the $`x_J`$. Each tuple with letter $`I`$ has weight $`a+1`$, and similarly for $`J`$. In the equation $`I_1+I_2=I_3+I_4`$, all operations are operations on tuples, so the two expressions are equal term by term.

###### Proof.

Recall the morphism

$$H^0((1))𝒪_X(1)$$

which, twisted with $`1`$, gives the exact sequence

$$\text{}.$$

$`𝒥`$ is the Ideal we are interested in. $`\alpha `$ consists of two direct summands: the morphism defined by a generating set of the vector space $`H^0(𝒪_X(a+1))`$, which we take to be the monomials of degree $`a+1`$ in the $`z_i`$’s, and the other morphism similarly defined by the monomials of degree $`b+1`$. These parts contribute with all relations on the monomials of degree $`a+1`$ and of degree $`b+1`$. For each monomial $`z^I:=z_0^{i_0}\mathrm{}z_n^{i_n}`$, let $`x_I`$ be the corresponding variable in the homogeneous coordinate ring of $`^{n+m}`$. We want to compute the relations among the $`x_I`$ with coefficients in the $`z_i`$. Compare with the $`(a+1)`$-uple embedding associated to the complete linear system $`𝒪_X(a+1)`$, given on coordinate rings by

$$\begin{array}{ccc}k[T_I\text{I is an n-tuple of total weight a+1}]& & k[z_0,\mathrm{},z_n].\\ & T_Iz^I& \end{array}$$

The kernel of this map, i.e. the ideal of the $`(a+1)`$-uple embedding, is generated by the elements $`T_{I_1}T_{I_2}T_{I_3}T_{I_4},I_1+I_2=I_3+I_4`$. Translating this back to the $`x_I`$, the relations among them with coefficients in the $`z_i`$ are exactly $`x_{I_1}z^{I_2}x_{I_3}z^{I_4},I_1+I_2=I_3+I_4`$. Note that also the relations with $`I_1=I_3,I_2=I_4`$ must be included, and that the two relations $`x_{I_1}z^{I_2}x_{I_3}z^{I_4}`$ and $`x_{I_2}z^{I_1}x_{I_4}z^{I_3}`$ are different. Thus the number of equations is larger than the number of equations for the $`(a+1)`$-uple embedding. Giving the other direct summand, corresponding to monomials of degree $`b+1`$, the same treatment proves the statement. ∎

Since the bundle in questions splits, we expect to find a Cohen-Macaulay subscheme of degree two. There are two choices for this subschemes, one for each summand. One possibility has ideal

$$(x_{I_1}z^{I_2}x_{I_3}z^{I_4},x_J,(x_I)^2)|I_1+I_2=I_3+I_4.$$

Switching the role of $`I`$ and $`J`$ produces the other.

###### Remark 4.21.

By Hartshorne’s Conjecture we expect that the above is essentially the only example of triple structures in the first infinitesimal neighbourhood of a linear subspace of dimension at least six.

###### Example 4.22.

The famous Horrocks-Mumford bundle on $`^4=X`$ is particularly interesting because it is essentially the only known example of a non-split rank 2 bundle on $`^4`$ in characteristic zero. So let $``$ be this bundle, twisted so that $`(1)`$ is generated by global sections, whereas $``$ is not. Then the minimal free resolution of $``$ is given by Manolache , (including explicit matrices) as

$$0𝒪_X(5)^2𝒪_X(3)^{20}𝒪_X(2)^{35}𝒪_X(1)^{15}𝒪_X^40.$$

Note that $`\mathrm{dim}\mathrm{\Gamma }((1))=35`$, so that we will consider $`X=^4^{39}`$. Consider the composite

$$\text{}.$$

$`\varphi `$ is the direct sum of two maps: One is an isomorphism $`𝒪_X(1)^{15}𝒪_X(1)^{15}`$. The other is four copies of the right hand map in the Euler sequence

$$0\mathrm{\Omega }_X𝒪_X(1)^5𝒪_X0.$$

Using the computer system Macaulay2, , we find the equations defining the kernel $`𝒥/_X^2`$ from the sequence

$$0𝒥/_X^2𝒪_X(1)^{35}0.$$

Together with the equations $`(x_1,\mathrm{},x_{35})^2`$ they generate the ideal corresponding to $`𝒥`$. The remaining equations are

$$\begin{array}{cc}z_4x_{19}+z_3x_{20}& z_4x_{24}+z_3x_{25}\\ z_4x_{29}+z_3x_{30}& z_4x_{34}+z_3x_{35}\\ z_4x_5+z_2x_{17}+z_3x_{21}& z_3x_2z_4x_{11}+z_2x_{18}\\ z_2x_3z_4x_{16}z_3x_{22}& z_3x_1+z_2x_{12}z_4x_{20}\\ z_3x_{18}+z_2x_{19}& z_3x_{23}+z_2x_{24}\\ z_3x_{28}+z_2x_{29}& z_3x_{33}+z_2x_{34}\\ z_4x_{18}+z_2x_{20}& z_4x_{23}+z_2x_{25}\\ z_4x_{28}+z_2x_{30}& z_4x_{33}+z_2x_{35}\\ z_3x_4+z_1x_{16}+z_4x_{23}& z_3x_9+z_4x_{13}+z_2x_{15}+z_1x_{21}z_4x_{28}\\ z_4x_4z_2x_6+z_1x_{22}& z_2x_1z_3x_{15}+z_1x_{17}\\ z_1x_2z_4x_{19}z_2x_{21}& z_4x_9+z_3x_{10}+z_1x_{12}+z_2x_{16}z_4x_{34}\\ z_2x_7+z_1x_8+z_4x_{15}+z_3x_{16}z_2x_{32}& z_4x_1+z_1x_9z_2x_{23}\\ z_2x_8+z_3x_{12}+z_1x_{14}+z_4x_{21}z_3x_{27}& z_1x_1z_4x_8+z_3x_{24}\end{array}$$

$$\begin{array}{cc}z_2x_5+z_1x_{11}z_3x_{19}& z_1x_3z_3x_6+z_4x_{25}\\ z_4x_5+z_1x_{18}+z_3x_{21}& z_2x_{22}+z_1x_{23}\\ z_2x_{27}+z_1x_{28}& z_2x_{32}+z_1x_{33}\\ z_3x_{17}+z_1x_{19}& z_3x_{22}+z_1x_{24}\\ z_3x_{27}+z_1x_{29}& z_3x_{32}+z_1x_{34}\\ z_4x_{17}+z_1x_{20}& z_4x_{22}+z_1x_{25}\\ z_4x_{27}+z_1x_{30}& z_4x_{32}+z_1x_{35}\\ z_3x_3z_1x_{10}+z_0x_{21}& z_3x_3+z_2x_4z_4x_7+z_1x_{10}\\ z_1x_5z_2x_{14}+z_0x_{16}& z_4x_2+z_1x_5+z_3x_{13}z_2x_{14}\\ z_1x_6+z_0x_7+z_3x_{14}+z_4x_{18}z_1x_{31}& z_4x_4z_3x_5z_2x_6+z_0x_8\\ z_2x_1+z_0x_3z_4x_{14}+z_3x_{15}& z_1x_7+z_2x_{11}+z_0x_{13}+z_4x_{24}z_2x_{26}\\ z_4x_{10}+z_3x_{11}+z_0x_{14}+z_2x_{22}z_3x_{26}& z_0x_5z_3x_7+z_2x_{23}\\ z_3x_2z_1x_4z_4x_{11}+z_0x_{15}& z_4x_6+z_0x_{10}+z_2x_{13}+z_3x_{17}z_4x_{31}\\ z_0x_1z_3x_{18}z_4x_{22}& z_0x_6+z_4x_{12}+z_1x_{15}+z_3x_{23}z_4x_{27}\\ z_3x_8+z_2x_9+z_0x_{11}+z_4x_{17}z_3x_{33}& z_0x_2z_2x_{10}+z_3x_{24}\\ z_4x_3+z_0x_{12}z_3x_{19}& z_2x_2+z_0x_9z_4x_{25}\\ z_0x_4z_1x_{13}+z_4x_{20}& z_3x_4+z_0x_{17}+z_4x_{23}\\ z_3x_9+z_4x_{13}+z_2x_{15}+z_0x_{22}z_4x_{28}& z_1x_{26}+z_0x_{27}\\ z_1x_{31}+z_0x_{32}& z_2x_{16}+z_0x_{18}\\ z_2x_{21}+z_0x_{23}& z_2x_{26}+z_0x_{28}\\ z_2x_{31}+z_0x_{33}& z_3x_{16}+z_0x_{19}\\ z_3x_{21}+z_0x_{24}& z_3x_{26}+z_0x_{29}\\ z_3x_{31}+z_0x_{34}& z_4x_{16}+z_0x_{20}\\ z_4x_{21}+z_0x_{25}& z_4x_{26}+z_0x_{30}\\ z_4x_{31}+z_0x_{35}& \end{array}$$

Thus we have a large number of equations (705), and the codimension is 35.

### 4.3. Reduced schemes of degree three

In this section we will consider reduced, equidimensional projective schemes of low degree. For degree one the only such variety is linear space itself. For degree two there are two possibilities: a quadric hypersurface (which may or may not be smooth) and a union of two linear subspaces, which may intersect in any given dimension. For degree three the classification was done in the anonymous note . Roughly speaking, there is one irreducible variety of degree three that is not a hypersurface, namely the Segre embedding of $`^1\times ^2^5`$, together with (repeated) hyperplane sections and cones over these. For degree four Swinnerton-Dyer classified the irreducible varieties in . For degrees five to eight all varieties have been classified in a series of papers by Ionescu, see  and the references therein. Because of the link with Hartshorne’s Conjecture (from Conjecture 4.3 and Theorem 4.4) we will focus our attention on the degree three case. A complete list will be given explicitly only in dimension four, and the Hilbert polynomials will be compared to the Hilbert polynomial of the scheme associated to the Horrocks-Mumford bundle.

###### Proposition 4.23.

The irreducible, nondegenerate varieties of degree three are the following:

* A cubic hypersurface in $`^n`$.
* The Segre variety $`^1\times ^2^5`$.
* An irreducible hyperplane section of the Segre variety in (ii).
* A twisted cubic in $`^3`$; this is an irreducible hyperplane section of the variety in (iii).
* A cone over one of the varieties in (ii)-(iv).

Of course, a cone over a (cubic) hypersurface is again a (cubic) hypersurface.

The Hilbert polynomials of these varieties are most conveniently expressed in terms of the Hilbert polynomials of projective spaces.

###### Proposition 4.24.

Let $`P_n(d):=\left(\begin{array}{c}n+d\\ d\end{array}\right)`$ be the Hilbert polynomial of projective $`n`$-space. Then the Hilbert polynomials of (i)-(v) in Proposition 4.23 are

* $`3P_{n1}3P_{n2}+P_{n3}`$
* $`3P_32P_2`$
* $`3P_22P_1`$
* $`3P_12P_0`$
* If the dimension of the cone is $`n`$, the Hilbert polynomial is $`3P_n2P_{n1}`$

###### Proof.

For the first two, use the resolution of the structure sheaf. Then (iii) and (iv) follow from (ii) since the resolutions come from the resolution of the Segre embedding by tensoring with a generic $`𝒪_H`$, where $`H`$ is a hyperplane. (v) follows from (ii)-(iv) and the following general remark: Let $`IS:=k[x_0,\mathrm{},x_n]`$ be the ideal of a projective scheme $`X^n:=\mathrm{Proj}S`$. Let $`T:=k[x_0,\mathrm{},x_n,x_{n+1},\mathrm{},x_{n+m}]`$ be the flat $`S`$-algebra such that $`^{n+m}=\mathrm{Proj}T`$. Then the cone over $`X`$ in $`^{n+m}`$ has ideal $`I_ST`$. Since $`T`$ is flat over $`S`$, the resolution (i.e. the graded betti numbers) of $`I`$ is preserved; just exchange $`𝒪_{^{n+m}}`$ for $`𝒪_^n`$. ∎

For reducible schemes the situation is slightly more difficult to state, although the geometric picture is clear. The new subtlety is the intersections of the irreducible components. We first state the precise result describing the possibilities for the union of four-dimensional irreducible varieties $`L`$ and $`Q`$ of degree one and two:

###### Proposition 4.25.

The possible schemes that are a union of $`L`$ and $`Q`$ are classified by the intersection $`LQ`$. The intersection is one of the following:

* The empty set (i.e. the disjoint union).
* One point.
* Two points.
* A line.
* A conic.
* A plane.
* A two dimensional quadric.
* A three-dimensional linear space.
* A three dimensional quadric.

Thus the corresponding Hilbert polynomials are (recall that the Hilbert polynomials of $`L`$ and $`Q`$, in our notation, are $`P_4`$ and $`2P_4P_3`$)

* $`3P_4P_3`$.
* $`3P_4P_3P_0`$.
* $`3P_4P_32P_0`$.
* $`3P_4P_3P_1`$.
* $`3P_4P_32P_1+P_0`$.
* $`3P_4P_3P_2`$.
* $`3P_4P_32P_2+P_1`$.
* $`3P_42P_3`$.
* $`3P_43P_3+P_2`$.

###### Proof.

The first part is a simple consequence of the fact that the highest dimensional linear subvarieties lying on an irreducible quadric hypersurface in $`^5`$ have dimension two. The second part follows from the first and the equality

$$\mathrm{Hilb}(LQ)=\mathrm{Hilb}L+\mathrm{Hilb}Q\mathrm{Hilb}(LQ).$$

We will need the following proposition:

###### Proposition 4.26.

Let $`W=XYZ^N`$ be a union of three pairwise different four-dimensional linear subspaces. Let the Hilbert polynomial of $`W`$ be

$$\mathrm{Hilb}W=3P_4aP_3+$$

Then $`a=0,1,2`$ or $`3`$.

###### Proof.

Intersect $`W`$ with a general $`^{N3}`$. This intersection is then a union of three lines with Hilbert polynomial

$$3P_1aP_0.$$

The possible unions of three lines are the following:

* Three skew lines, giving $`a=0`$.
* Two lines intersecting in a point, the third not intersecting these two, giving $`a=1`$.
* Two skew lines, the third intersecting both these two, giving $`a=2`$.
* A triangle, giving $`a=3`$.
* Three lines in the plane, intersecting in one point, giving $`a=3`$.
* Three non-coplanar lines intersecting in one point, giving $`a=2`$.

This establishes the claim. ∎

###### Remark 4.27.

In fact, we can be more precise. Through a case-by-case analysis it can be seen that the following is the complete list of Hilbert polynomials for a union of three four-dimensional linear spaces:

$$\begin{array}{ccc}3P_4\hfill & 3P_4P_0\hfill & 3P_42P_0\hfill \\ 3P_43P_0\hfill & 3P_4P_1\hfill & 3P_4P_1P_0\hfill \\ 3P_42P_1\hfill & 3P_4P_12P_0\hfill & 3P_42P1P_0\hfill \\ 3P_43P_1+P_0\hfill & 3P_43P_1\hfill & 3P_4P_2\hfill \\ 3P_4P_2P_0\hfill & 3P_4P_2P_1\hfill & 3P_4P_22P_0\hfill \\ 3P_4P_2P_1\hfill & 3P_4P_2P_1P_0\hfill & 3P_42P_2\hfill \\ 3P_4P_22P_1+P_0\hfill & 3P_4P_22P_1\hfill & 3P_42P_2P_1+P_0\hfill \\ 3P_43P_2+P_1\hfill & 3P_43P_2+P_0\hfill & 3P_4P_3\hfill \\ 3P_4P_3P_0\hfill & 3P_4P_32P_0\hfill & 3P_4P_3P_1\hfill \\ 3P_4P_32P_1+P_0\hfill & 3P_4P_3P_2\hfill & 3P_4P_32P_2+P_1\hfill \\ 3P_42P_3\hfill & 3P_43P_3+P_2\hfill & \end{array}$$

Since the argument is quite technical, and we only need the weaker statement in the above proposition, we will not provide the proof for this statement.

###### Proposition 4.28.

Let $`Y`$ be the triple structure on $`^4`$ embedded in $`^{39}`$ from Example 4.22. Then $`Y`$ determines a point in a Hilbert scheme $`H`$. No point in $`H`$ corresponds to a reduced, equidimensional scheme.

###### Proof.

The Hilbert polynomial of the Horrocks-Mumford bundle $``$ was computed already in . With our twist and notation, the result reads

$$\mathrm{Hilb}=2P_4+5P_3+5P_210P_0.$$

By Proposition 2.13 the Hilbert polynomial of $`Y`$ is then

$$\mathrm{Hilb}Y=\mathrm{Hilb}^4+\mathrm{Hilb}=3P_4+5P_3+5P_210P_0$$

which is not among the possibilities for reduced degree three schemes found above. ∎

###### Remark 4.29.

One might hope to gain new insight into the validity of Hartshorne’s Conjecture through the reformulation in Theorem 4.4 and the very small number of degree three varieties. Our last proposition suggests that it will be difficult to search for (possible) counter-examples to the conjecture by this procedure. At least we cannot expect to find new bundles by deforming given reduced varieties to triple schemes on linear subspaces and reversing the above process.

###### Remark 4.30.

In general, for arbitrary dimension $`n`$, we can prove by the same argument that any reduced, equidimensional scheme of degree three has Hilbert polynomial of the form $`3P_naP_{n1}+\mathrm{}`$, where $`a=0,1,2,3`$.

### 4.4. Complete intersections, projections and multiple structures

In this section we consider subvarieties of a projective space $`^N`$. Our first result provides a partial generalization of a criterion from  from codimension two to higher codimension. Roughly speaking, it says that complete intersections are characterized by the structure of the first infinitesimal neighbourhood.

###### Theorem 4.31.

Let $`X^N`$ be a smooth variety of codimension $`c`$.

* Let $`X`$ be a complete intersection, and choose polynomials $`F_1,\mathrm{},F_c`$ of degrees $`f_1,\mathrm{},f_c`$ generating the ideal of $`X`$. For each subset $`S\{1,\mathrm{},c\}`$ there is a multiple Cohen-Macaulay structure $`Z_S`$, contained in the first infinitesimal neighbourhood, with defining short exact sequence

$$0𝒥_S/_X^2_X/_X^2\stackrel{F_i}{}𝒪_X(f_i)0,$$

where $`i`$ runs through $`S`$. $`Z_SZ_S^{}`$ if and only if $`SS^{}`$. The multiplicity of $`Z_S`$ is equal to the cardinality of $`S+1`$.
* If $`X`$ has multiple structures $`Z_S`$ as above (but with general line bundles, not necessarily of the form $`O_X(f)`$), then the normal bundle of $`X`$ splits. Especially, if the Picard group of $`X`$ is generated by the class of a hyperplane section (e.g. if $`\mathrm{dim}X\frac{N+2}{2}`$), $`X`$ is a complete intersection.
* Assume that the Picard group of $`X`$ is generated by the class of a hyperplane section, and that $`H_{}^2_X=0`$. Then $`X`$ is a complete intersection if and only if there is a filtration

$$X=X_0X_1\mathrm{}X_{\mathrm{codim}X}=X^{(1)}$$

of the first infinitesimal neighbourhood of $`X`$ in $``$, where each $`X_i`$ is Cohen-Macaulay and has multiplicity one more than $`X_{i1}`$.

###### Proof.

The proof of part a): the conormal bundle of $`X`$ is isomorphic to $`_i𝒪_X(f_i)`$, and the morphisms in the statement are projections onto summands given by choosing the polynomials not in the ideal of $`Z_S`$. The last statements follow easily.

For the proof of part b), assume that the codimension $`c=3`$. The extension to general codimension is straightforward but messy. So we have a graph of inclusions

Now for each pair $`i,j`$ there is a diagram

Reversing the role of $`i`$ and $`j`$ gives a similar diagram, but the the right hand column is turned upside down, showing two things: that the $``$ defined by the diagram is isomorphic to $`_j`$, and that the right hand sequence splits. Now a similar argument can be made for the diagram

showing that $`^{}_k`$ and that $`_{ijk}`$ splits as a sum of the three line bundles $`_i,_j,_k`$. But $`_{ijk}=_X^2`$, so

$$_X/_X^2_{123}_1_2_3.$$

Now if the Picard group is generated by the class of a hyperplane section, these summands are all twists of the structure sheaf of $`X`$, and the normal bundle of $`X`$ can be extended to the corresponding split bundle on $`^N`$.

The condition $`\mathrm{dim}X\frac{N+2}{2}`$ is the condition in the Barth-Lefschetz Theorem, which says, among other things, that $`\mathrm{Pic}X=h`$, $`h`$ the class of a hyperplane section.

Let us prove part c). Suppose we have a filtration as in the statement. For each $`i`$ there is a short exact sequence

$$0_{X_i}/_X^2_X/_X^2_i0$$

where $`_i`$ is locally free of rank $`i`$. Furthermore we have surjections $`_i_j`$ whenever $`i>j`$. Thus we have a filtration of $`_X/_X^2`$ with successive quotients which are line bundles on $`X`$. Because of the conditions $`\mathrm{Ext}^1(,𝒩)=H^1𝒪_X(d)=H^2_X(d)=0`$ for all line bundles $`,𝒩`$ on $`X`$ ($`d`$ being some twist depending on $``$ and $`𝒩`$), and $`_X/_X^2`$ actually splits. We conclude as in part b).

###### Remark 4.32.

Of course, given a filtration as in part c) one can get the splittings if the cohomology vanishes in the (finite number of) relevant degrees.

###### Remark 4.33.

In codimension two, the result has been generalized to singular varieties, see .

Our next results tie in double structures and projections. Our setup is the following: $`i:X^N`$ is a non-singular, connected variety, and $`P^NX`$ is the center of a projection $`\pi :^N\{P\}^{N1}`$. We use the same symbol for the restriction to $`X`$. $`X^{}^{N1}`$ is the image of $`X`$ under this morphism.

###### Theorem 4.34.

In the above situation,

* If $`P`$ is outside $`\mathrm{Sec}X`$, the secant variety of $`X`$, then there is a double Cohen-Macaulay structure $`Y`$ on $`X`$ such that its defining sequence is

$$0_Y/_X^2_X/_X^2𝒪_X(1)0.$$

In addition,

$$_Y/_X^2_X^{}/_X^{}^2.$$
* Suppose that $`X^3`$ is a space curve, and that $`X^{}`$ only has ordinary nodes as singularities. Then there exists a double Cohen-Macaulay structure $`Y`$ on $`X`$ such that its defining sequence is

$$0_Y/_X^2_X/_X^2𝒪_X(1)0.$$

In addition

$$_Y/_X^2𝒪_X(\mathrm{deg}X^{})𝒪_X(𝔻)$$

where $`𝔻`$ is the divisor of double points of the morphism $`\pi :X^2`$.

###### Proof.

a) There is a well-known exact sequence

$$0_X^{}/_X^{}^2_X/_X^2i^{}\mathrm{\Omega }_{^N\{P\}/^{N1}}^10$$

(see , VIII.1). We use our standard procedure on this sequence to produce the double structure $`Y`$. The only thing left to observe is that

$$i^{}\mathrm{\Omega }_{^N\{P\}/^{N1}}^1𝒪_X(1)$$

which can be seen, for instance, by pulling back the Euler sequences of $`^N`$ and $`^{N1}`$ to $`X`$:

The dual of the sequence to the right is then

$$0𝒪_X(1)i^{}\mathrm{\Omega }_^N\pi ^{}\mathrm{\Omega }_{^{N1}}0$$

from which we get

$$i^{}\mathrm{\Omega }_{^N\{P\}/^{N1}}^1𝒪_X(1).$$

b) In this situation there is an exact sequence

$$0𝒯_X\pi ^{}𝒯_^2𝒩_\pi 0,$$

where the relative normal bundle is

$$𝒩_\pi \pi ^{}𝒪_^2(\mathrm{deg}X^{})𝒪_X(𝔻).$$

This can be found in ,9.3.

Consider also the exact sequence

$$0𝒯_Xi^{}𝒯_^3𝒩_{X/^3}0,$$

the normal sequence to the embedding $`i:X^3`$. Combining these sequences with the diagram from the proof of part a) (but with the arrows reversed), we get a diagram

Now the dual of the sequence to the right,

$$0𝒩_\pi ^{}𝒩_X^{}𝒪_X(1)0,$$

is the sequence we seek. ∎

###### Remark 4.35.

The multiple structures defined in the theorem can be given an explicit geometric interpretation as follows: for each point $`x`$ on $`X`$, construct the line joining this point to the point $`P`$. For a point on a line, there is only one double structure. The theorem gives conditions under which these double points patch together to give a Cohen-Macaulay double structure on $`X`$. We double $`X`$ in the direction of $`P`$.

The dual to the morphism $`_X/_X^2𝒪_X(1)`$,

$$𝒪_X(1)𝒩_X,$$

can be thought of as giving a normal vector in each point of $`X`$, pointing towards $`P`$. If $`P`$ were on a tangent line to a point $`x`$ on $`X`$, this vector would vanish, i.e. the cokernel of $`𝒪_X(1)𝒩_X`$ would have torsion with support on $`x`$. This explains why $`P`$ has to be outside the tangent variety of $`X`$ in the theorem (e.g. in part b) we assumed that $`X^{}`$ did not have any cusps).

Also, if $`X`$ is degenerate and $`P`$ is outside the linear span of $`X`$, this $`𝒪_X(1)`$ is a direct summand of $`_X/_X^2`$; compare with the proof of Proposition 4.12.

## 5.  Examples of non-type I structures

In this chapter we will find some examples of codimension two multiple structures whose $`S_1`$-filtration contains schemes that are not Cohen-Macaulay. All our examples will contain a complete intersection of multiplicity two less, and this will imply that the dimension has to be two. For a linear subspace, some of these structures were found in my Master’s thesis (hovedfagsoppgave). For some classes of reduced support, the examples presented here give a complete list of structures of this kind. The two simplest examples were found by Manolache in .

More precisely, we will prove the following theorem:

###### Theorem 5.1.

Let $`X^N`$ be a smooth variety of codimension two and degree $`d`$, embedded in a projective space of dimension $`N4`$. Assume that $`X`$ is a complete intersection with ideal $`I_X=(P,Q)`$, and let $`Y`$ be the multiple structure on $`X`$ given by $`I_Y=(P^a,Q^b)`$. Let $`Y^{}`$ be a Cohen-Macaulay multiple structure on $`X`$, containing $`Y`$, with multiplicity two higher than the multiplicity of $`Y`$ (i.e. $`ab+2`$), such that the $`S_1`$-filtration of $`Y^{}`$ contains a non-Cohen-Macaulay scheme $`Z`$ lying between $`Y`$ and $`Y^{}`$. Then $`N=4`$. Possibilities for the ideal of $`Y^{}`$ are:

$$\begin{array}{c}\hfill \text{I}fa=1,b=1\\ \hfill I_Y^{}=(g^2(fP+gQ)lP^2,fg(fP+gQ)+lPQ,f^2(fP+gQ)lQ^2,P(fP+gQ),\\ \hfill Q(fP+gQ),P^3,P^2Q,PQ^2,Q^3)\\ \hfill \text{I}fa=1,b>1\\ \hfill I_Y^{}=(g(fP+gQ^b)lPQ,f(fP+gQ^b)+lQ^{b+1},\\ \hfill Q(fP+gQ^b),P^2,PQ^2,Q^{b+2})\\ \hfill \text{I}fa>1,b>1\\ \hfill I_Y^{}=(rg(fP^a+gQ^b)lP^{a+1},rf(fP^a+gQ^b)+lPQ^b,sg(fP^a+gQ^b)lP^aQ,\\ \hfill sf(fP^a+gQ^b)+lQ^{b+1},sP^{a+1}rP^aQ,sPQ^brQ^{b+1},\\ \hfill P(fP^a+gQ^b),Q(fP^a+gQ^b),P^{a+2},P^2Q^b,P^{a+1}Q,PQ^{b+1},P^aQ^2,Q^{b+2})\end{array}$$

Furthermore, if $`\mathrm{Pic}X`$, generated by a hyperplane section, then the above list is complete.

Let $`X^N`$ be a smooth variety of codimension two and degree $`d`$, $`N4`$. We assume that $`\mathrm{Pic}(X)=h`$, where $`h`$ is the class of a hyperplane section, which holds for instance if $`X`$ has dimension at least four, or if $`X`$ is a complete intersection of dimension three. We assume furthermore that $`H_{}^1(_X)=0`$ (which also holds if $`X`$ is a complete intersection, or more generally if the length of a minimal resolution of $`X`$ is less than the maximal possible length). Together, these two assumptions ensure that all $`𝒪_X`$-Module maps between line bundles lift to morphisms of line bundles on $`^N`$, and are therefore represented by polynomials. Note also that if we remove the condition that the Picard group is generated by a hyperplane section, or the condition $`H_{}^1(_X)=0`$, the constructions still work, although there may be other structures arising from constructions using line bundles or maps that cannot be extended to $`^N`$. Let $`Y`$ be a complete intersection with $`Y_{\mathrm{red}}=X`$, $`I_Y=(p,q)S=k[z_0,\mathrm{},z_N]`$. We want to understand short exact sequences

$$0_Z/_Y_X_Y/I_Y_X0$$

where $`Z`$ is an $`(S_1)`$-scheme, but not Cohen-Macaulay. Since $`Y`$ is a complete intersection, $`_Y/_Y_X`$ is isomorphic to $`𝒪_X(\alpha )𝒪_X(\beta )`$, where $`\alpha ,\beta `$ are the degrees of $`p,q`$ respectively. $``$ is torsion free of rank 1, so $`_Z/_Y_X`$ is reflexive and thus, being of rank one, a line bundle. If the sequence splits, $``$ has to be a line bundle and we get a Cohen-Macaulay scheme.

###### Remark 5.2.

In this opening section the polynomials $`p`$ and $`q`$ are just required to be coprime, so that the scheme they define has codimension two. Later on we will also require the reduced subvariety to be a complete intersection, and $`p`$ and $`q`$ will be powers of generators of the ideal of $`X`$. This is to facilitate the computations; it seems harder to do this in a more general setting.

###### Proposition 5.3.

In order to get a structure $`Z`$ of degree $`\alpha \beta +d`$ (or equivalently, of multiplicity $`\alpha \beta /d+1`$) that contains $`Y`$, which is $`(S_1)`$ but not Cohen-Macaulay, it is necessary and sufficient to require that

$$_Z/_Y_X𝒪_X(c),\text{ }c>\alpha ,\beta .$$

###### Proof.

We already know that $`_Z/_Y_X`$ has to be a line bundle, so we just have to consider the twist $`c`$. A necessary condition for $`Z`$ is that the homological singularity set has codimension at least two. From the existence of a non-zero map $`𝒪_X(c)_Z/_Y_X_Y/I_Y_X𝒪_X(\alpha )𝒪_X(\beta )`$ we conclude that $`c`$ one of $`\alpha ,\beta `$. Suppose $`\alpha \beta `$.

If $`\alpha >c\beta `$ the first component of the map $`𝒪_X(c)𝒪_X(\alpha )𝒪_X(\beta )`$ will be zero. This violates the condition of codimension two for the homological singularity set. Likewise, if $`c=\alpha `$ the first component of our map will be invertible (or zero), again violating this condition. Thus $`c>\alpha ,\beta `$ is necessary.

For the sufficiency, note that the map $`𝒪_X(c)𝒪_X(\alpha )𝒪_X(\beta )`$ will be given by two forms $`f,g`$ of degrees $`c\alpha ,c\beta `$ respectively, such that $`p,q,f,g`$ is a regular sequence. Obviously $`Z`$ will satisfy the Cohen-Macaulay condition in each point outside $`V_+(f,g)`$, so we need only show that the $`(S_1)`$-condition is satisfied in the points of $`V_+(f,g)`$. In these points $`P`$ we have $`\mathrm{dim}𝒪_{Z,P}2`$. By definition, we just have to show that $`\mathrm{depth}𝒪_{Z,P}1`$. But to show this it suffices to present a non-zero divisor modulo $`I_Z`$, for instance $`f`$ or $`g`$. ∎

If the ideal of $`X`$ is $`I_X=(P,Q)`$ then, in terms of $`f,g`$ the ideal of $`Z`$ is $`I_Z=(fp+gq,pP,pQ,qP,qQ)`$.

###### Proposition 5.4.

If the last term in the $`S_1`$-filtration, $`Z`$, of a Cohen-Macaulay scheme $`Y`$, of multiplicity $`\nu `$, is of multiplicity $`\nu 1`$, then the last $`_j`$ is a line bundle.

###### Proof.

Let $`=_j`$. There is a short exact sequence of $`𝒪_^N`$-Modules

$$0i_{}𝒪_Y𝒪_Z0$$

where $`i:X^N`$ is the inclusion. By the results on completion, we need to show that, for each $`xX`$, the $`A:=\widehat{𝒪_{X,x}}`$-module $`L:=\widehat{_x}`$ is free. Now this module sits in a short exact sequence

$$0L\widehat{𝒪_{Y,x}}\widehat{𝒪_{Z,x}}0$$

of $`A`$-modules. In this exact sequence the module in the middle is free and the module on the right is torsion free. Thus $`L`$ is reflexive, and, being of rank one, also free. Since $`xX`$ was arbitrary, the sheaf $``$ is a line bundle. ∎

For the explicit calculations that follow, we will specialize to a complete intersection with ideal $`I_Y=(p,q)=(P^a,Q^b)`$, where $`I_X=(P,Q)`$ is the ideal of the support $`X`$ (also a complete intersection). Thus $`I_Z=(fP^a+gQ^b,P^{a+1},PQ^b,P^aQ,Q^{b+1})`$, $`I_ZI_X=(P(fP^a+gQ^b),Q(fP^a+gQ^b),P^{a+2},P^2Q^b,P^{a+1}Q,PQ^{b+1},P^aQ^2,Q^{b+2})`$. Throughout, $`𝒪=𝒪_X`$.

###### Remark 5.5.

Note that if $`a=1`$ or $`b=1`$ there are redundant generators in the above expression for $`I_Z`$. Therefore we must split up our analysis accordingly. However, it turns out that the required calculations are very similar for varying cases. Therefore we give the complete proof only for the case that both $`a`$ and $`b`$ are greater than two. For further details, see .

###### Proposition 5.6.

Assume both $`a2`$ and $`b2`$. The minimal resolution of the $`𝒪`$-Module $`_Z/_Z_X`$ is

$$0\begin{array}{c}𝒪(c\mathrm{deg}P)\\ \\ 𝒪(c\mathrm{deg}Q)\end{array}\begin{array}{c}𝒪(c)\\ \\ 𝒪(\alpha \mathrm{deg}P)\\ \\ 𝒪(\beta \mathrm{deg}P)\\ \\ 𝒪(\alpha \mathrm{deg}Q)\\ \\ 𝒪(\beta \mathrm{deg}Q)\end{array}_Z/_Z_X0$$

where $`\alpha =\mathrm{deg}(P^a)=a\mathrm{deg}P`$,$`\beta =b\mathrm{deg}Q`$ and $`c=\mathrm{deg}(fP^a+gQ^b)`$. The first map is given, on the level of graded modules, by the matrix

$$\mathrm{\Phi }=\left(\begin{array}{cc}0& 0\\ f& 0\\ g& 0\\ 0& f\\ 0& g\end{array}\right)$$

and the second map is given by the generators of $`I_Z`$

$$\mathrm{\Psi }=\left(\begin{array}{ccccc}fP^a+gQ^b& P^{a+1}& PQ^b& P^aQ& Q^{b+1}\end{array}\right).$$

###### Proof.

The injectivity of the first map and the surjectivity of the second is obvious. First we show that $`\mathrm{\Psi }\mathrm{\Phi }=0`$ in $`𝒪`$-Mod.

$$\begin{array}{c}\mathrm{\Psi }\mathrm{\Phi }=\left(\begin{array}{ccccc}fP^a+gQ^b& P^{a+1}& PQ^b& P^aQ& Q^{b+1}\end{array}\right)\left(\begin{array}{cc}0& 0\\ f& 0\\ g& 0\\ 0& f\\ 0& g\end{array}\right)=\hfill \\ =\left(\begin{array}{cc}fP^{a+1}+gPQ^b& fP^aQ+gQ^{b+1}\end{array}\right).\hfill \end{array}$$

Now both these polynomials lie in $`I_ZI_X`$, so the composition is zero.

Then we show that $`\mathrm{ker}\mathrm{\Psi }\mathrm{Im}\mathrm{\Phi }`$. So suppose $`\mathrm{\Phi }(A,B,C,D,E)=0`$, that is

$$A(fP^a+gQ^b)+BP^{a+1}+CPQ^b+DP^aQ+EQ^{b+1}=0$$

or, if we consider preimages of $`A,B,C,D,E`$ (which we denote by the same letters)

$$A(fP^a+gQ^b)+BP^{a+1}+CPQ^b+DP^aQ+EQ^{b+1}I_ZI_X.$$

Since we are free to adjust these polynomials with elements from $`I_X`$, we can assume that each one is either outside $`I_X`$ or else is zero. Let us first see that $`A=0`$: since $`f,AI_X`$ the term $`AfP^a`$ is indivisible by both $`P^{a+1}`$ and $`Q`$. But all other terms that involve $`P^a`$ also involve one more $`P`$ or $`Q`$. Thus $`A=0`$.

Consider $`B`$ and $`C`$: we want to show that $`f|B,g|C`$ and $`\frac{B}{f}=\frac{C}{g}`$ (the analogous statement for $`D`$ and $`E`$ is proven similarly). Since $`BI_X`$ the term $`BP^{a+1}`$ is indivisible by $`P^{a+2}`$ and $`Q`$. Since $`CI_X`$ the term $`CPQ^b`$ is indivisible by $`P^2`$ and $`Q^{b+1}`$. Since all generators for $`I_ZI_X`$, apart from $`P(fP^a+gQ^b)`$, involve higher powers of $`P`$ and $`Q`$, we will have to use this relation. Thus there is some polynomial $`h`$ such that $`BP^{a+1}+CPQ^b=h(fP^{a+1}+gPQ^b)`$ or

$$BP^a+CQ^b=h(fP^a+gQ^b).$$

Since $`P,Q`$ is a regular sequence we can split this equation in two:

$$BP^a=hfP^a\text{ and }CQ^b=hgQ^b.$$

Finally,

$$\frac{B}{f}=h=\frac{C}{g}$$

and the proof is complete. ∎

Note that we used the condition $`a2`$ in the last part of the proof. The condition $`b2`$ is used similarly for the $`D,E`$ case.

The next step is to find the sheaves $``$ such that there is a surjective map $`_Z/_Z_X`$ whose kernel gives the Ideal of a Cohen-Macaulay scheme. By Proposition 5.4 $``$ is a line bundle. We still assume $`a,b2`$.

###### Proposition 5.7.

Giving a surjection

$$_Z/_Z_X$$

to an invertible sheaf $``$ is equivalent to giving a surjection

$$\begin{array}{c}𝒪(c)\\ \\ 𝒪(\alpha \mathrm{deg}P)\\ \\ 𝒪(\beta \mathrm{deg}P)\\ \\ 𝒪(\alpha \mathrm{deg}Q)\\ \\ 𝒪(\beta \mathrm{deg}Q)\end{array}$$

whose matrix on the level of graded modules is

$$\mathrm{\Lambda }=\left(\begin{array}{ccccc}l& rg& rf& sg& sf\end{array}\right)$$

where $`r,s,l`$ are homogeneous polynomials of degree $`\mathrm{deg}r`$,$`\mathrm{deg}s=\mathrm{deg}r+\mathrm{deg}Q\mathrm{deg}P`$ and $`\mathrm{deg}l=d+c=2c\alpha \beta \mathrm{deg}P+\mathrm{deg}r`$ that satisfy

$$V_+(l)V_+(rg)V_+(rf)V_+(sg)V_+(sf)=\mathrm{}.$$

If such a surjection exists, then $`\mathrm{dim}X=2`$ and $`𝒪(c\alpha \beta \mathrm{deg}P+\mathrm{deg}r)`$.

###### Proof.

Since the displayed rank five Module surjects onto $`_Z/_Z_X`$, we need a map from this Module that annihilates the kernel, that is

$$\mathrm{\Lambda }\mathrm{\Phi }=0.$$

Since we are interested in $``$ a line bundle, $`\mathrm{\Lambda }`$ will be a $`1\times 5`$ matrix. The map is given by five polynomials, and the surjectivity will then amount to saying that those five polynomials have no common zeroes. Let $`\mathrm{\Lambda }=\left(\begin{array}{ccccc}l& m& n& o& p\end{array}\right)`$. The condition $`\mathrm{\Lambda }\mathrm{\Phi }=0`$ translates to the two equations

$$\begin{array}{ccc}fm+gn& =& 0\\ fo+gp& =& 0.\end{array}$$

This gives the following conditions:

$$\begin{array}{ccc}l& & \text{no condition}\\ m& =& rg\\ n& =& rf\\ o& =& sg\\ p& =& sf\end{array}$$

The surjectivity condition then amounts to

$$V_+(l)V_+(rg)V_+(rf)V_+(sg)V_+(sf)=\mathrm{}$$

or

$$\begin{array}{ccc}V_+(l)V_+(r)V_+(s)& =& \mathrm{}\\ V_+(l)V_+(f)V_+(g)& =& \mathrm{}.\end{array}$$

If $`\mathrm{dim}X>2`$ then this is impossible, whereas if $`\mathrm{dim}X=2`$ then this will hold for generic choices of polynomials.

The only thing left to compute is the degree of $``$ and the degrees of the polynomials $`r,s`$ and $`l`$; let $`=𝒪(d)`$. From the second term of $`\mathrm{\Lambda }`$ we find

$$d=\alpha \mathrm{deg}P+\mathrm{deg}r+\mathrm{deg}g=\alpha \mathrm{deg}P+\mathrm{deg}r+c\beta $$

which gives the formula for $`d`$ in the statement. From the fourth term of $`\mathrm{\Lambda }`$ we find

$$d=\alpha \mathrm{deg}Q+\mathrm{deg}s+\mathrm{deg}g$$

which, compared with the first expression for $`d`$, gives

$$\mathrm{deg}s=\mathrm{deg}r+\mathrm{deg}Q\mathrm{deg}P.$$

Finally, from the first term of $`\mathrm{\Lambda }`$ we get the equation

$$d=c+\mathrm{deg}l$$

which, compared with the first expression for $`d`$, gives

$$\mathrm{deg}l=d+c=2c+\mathrm{deg}r\alpha \beta \mathrm{deg}P.$$

The final step is to find the kernel of $`\mathrm{\Lambda }`$, and interpret this as a statement about equations.

###### Proposition 5.8.

The equations we find from the kernel of $`\mathrm{\Lambda }`$, together with the equations generating $`_Z_X`$ give us the ideal of a Cohen-Macaulay scheme $`Y^{}`$:

$$\begin{array}{c}\hfill I_Y^{}=(rg(fP^a+gQ^b)lP^{a+1},rf(fP^a+gQ^b)+lPQ^b,sg(fP^a+gQ^b)lP^aQ,\\ \hfill sf(fP^a+gQ^b)+lQ^{b+1},sP^{a+1}rP^aQ,sPQ^brQ^{b+1},\\ \hfill P(fP^a+gQ^b),Q(fP^a+gQ^b),P^{a+2},P^2Q^b,P^{a+1}Q,PQ^{b+1},P^aQ^2,Q^{b+2})\end{array}$$

###### Proof.

First we compute the kernel of $`\mathrm{\Lambda }`$; so suppose $`(A,B,C,D,E)0`$ under $`\mathrm{\Lambda }`$. Note that, because of $`l,r,s`$ and $`l,f,g`$ being regular sequences, it is enough to consider only quintuples $`(A,B,C,D,E)`$ where two of the terms are non-zero. We get the following list of $`(A,B,C,D,E)`$ generating the kernel:

$$\begin{array}{c}(rg,l,0,0,0)\\ (rf,0,l,0,0)\\ (sg,0,0,l,0)\\ (sf,0,0,0,l)\\ (0,f,g,0,0)\\ (0,s,0,r,0)\\ (0,sf,0,0,rg)\\ (0,0,sg,rf,0)\\ (0,0,s,0,r)\\ (0,0,0,f,g)\end{array}$$

Note that $`(0,sf,0,0,rg)=f(0,s,0,r,0)+r(0,0,0,f,g)`$ and $`(0,0,sg,rf,0)=g(0,0,s,0,r)+r(0,0,0,f,g)`$, so these two quintuples are superfluous. Note also, though we don’t need this fact, that the first four equations generate the kernel over the quotient field. For instance, $`(0,0,s,0,r)=\frac{s}{l}(rf,0,l,0,0)\frac{r}{l}(sf,0,0,0,l)`$.

Combining the eight necessary equations from the above list with the map $`\mathrm{\Psi }=\left(\begin{array}{ccccc}fP^a+gQ^b& P^{a+1}& PQ^b& P^aQ& Q^{b+1}\end{array}\right)`$, and adding the generators for $`I_ZI_X`$, we get

$$\begin{array}{c}\hfill I_Y^{}=(rg(fP^a+gQ^b)lP^{a+1},rf(fP^a+gQ^b)+lPQ^b,sg(fP^a+gQ^b)lP^aQ,\\ \hfill sf(fP^a+gQ^b)+lQ^{b+1},fP^{a+1}+gPQ^b,sP^{a+1}rP^aQ,sPQ^brQ^{b+1},\\ \hfill fP^aQ+gQ^{b+1},P(fP^a+gQ^b),Q(fP^a+gQ^b),P^{a+2},P^2Q^b,P^{a+1}Q,PQ^{b+1},\\ \hfill P^aQ^2,Q^{b+2}).\end{array}$$

Here we have two repetitions coming from the fact that $`fP^{a+1}+gPQ^b=P(fP^a+gQ^b)`$ already is in $`I_ZI_X`$, and similarly for $`fP^aQ+gQ^{b+1}=Q(fP^a+gQ^b)`$. Removing these two equations gives us the theorem. ∎

###### Remark 5.9.

This completes the proof of the main theorem of this Chapter. For $`X=^2`$, $`a=1`$ and $`b=1,2`$, these structures where discovered by Manolache . Complete calculations for the two cases left out, for $`X=^2`$, can be found in .