An indispensable classification of monomial curves in $\mathbb{A}^4(\mathbbmss{k}) $

Abstract

In this paper a new classification of monomial curves in $\mathbb{A}^4(\mathbbmss{k})$ is given. Our classification relies on the detection of those binomials and monomials that have to appear in every system of binomial generators of the defining ideal of the monomial curve; these special binomials and monomials are called indispensable in the literature. This way to proceed has the advantage of producing a natural necessary and sufficient condition for the definining ideal of a monomial curve in $\mathbb{A}^4(\mathbbmss{k})$ to have a unique minimal system of binomial generators. Furthermore, some other interesting results on more general classes of binomial ideals with unique minimal system of binomial generators are obtained.