Reduction numbers and initial ideals

The reduction number r(A) of a standard graded algebra A is the least integer k such that there exists a minimal reduction J of the homogeneous maximal ideal m of A such that Jm^k=m^{k+1}. Vasconcelos conjectured that the reduction number of A=R/I can only increase by passing to the initial ideal, i.e r(R/I)\leq r(R/in(I)). The goal of this note is to prove the conjecture.Comment: 6 page

Castelnuovo-Mumford regularity of products of ideals

We discuss the behavior of the Castelnuovo-Mumford regularity under certain operations on ideals and modules, like products or powers. In particular, we show that reg(IM) can be larger than reg(M)+reg(I) even when I is an ideal of linear forms and M is a module with a linear resolution. On the other hand, we show that any product of ideals of linear forms has a linear resolution. We also discuss the case of polymatroidal ideals and show that any product of determinantal ideals of a generic Hankel matrix has a linear resolution.Comment: 14 page

New free divisors from old

We present several methods to construct or identify families of free divisors such as those annihilated by many Euler vector fields, including binomial free divisors, or divisors with triangular discriminant matrix. We show how to create families of quasihomogeneous free divisors through the chain rule or by extending them into the tangent bundle. We also discuss whether general divisors can be extended to free ones by adding components and show that adding a normal crossing divisor to a smooth one will not succeed