On the dimension and multiplicity of local cohomology modules

Abstract

AbstractThis paper is concerned with a finitely generated module M over a (commutative Noetherian) local ring R. In the case when R is a homomorphic image of a Gorenstein local ring, one can use the well-known associativity formula for multiplicities, together with local duality and Matlis duality, to produce analogous associativity formulae for the local cohomology modules of M with respect to the maximal ideal. The main purpose of this paper is to show that these formulae also hold in the case when R is universally catenary and such that all its formal fibres are Cohen–Macaulay.These formulae involve certain subsets of the spectrum of R called the pseudosupports of M; these pseudo-supports are closed in the Zariski topology when R is universally catenary and has the property that all its formal fibres are Cohen–Macaulay. However, examples are provided to show that, in general, these pseudo-supports need not be closed. We are able to conclude that the above-mentioned associativity formulae for local cohomology modules do not hold over all local rings.