Pruned cellular free resolutions of monomial ideals

Abstract

Using discrete Morse theory, we give an algorithm that prunes the excess of information in the Taylor resolution and constructs a new cellular free resolution for an arbitrary monomial ideal. The pruned resolution is not simplicial in general, but we can slightly modify our algorithm in order to obtain a simplicial resolution. We also show that the Lyubeznik resolution fits into our pruning strategy. We finally use our methods to give a different approach to the theory of splitting of monomial ideals.