On the Hilbert function of Artinian local complete intersections of codimension three

Abstract

In singularity theory or algebraic geometry, it is natural to investigate possible Hilbert functions for special algebras $A$ such as local complete intersections or more generally Gorenstein algebras. The sequences that occur as {the} Hilbert functions of standard graded complete intersections are well understood classically thanks to Macaulay and Stanley. Very little is known in the local case except in codimension two. In this paper we characterise the Hilbert functions of quadratic Artinian complete intersections of codimension three. Interestingly we prove that a Hilbert function is admissible for such a Gorenstein ring if and only if is admissible for such a complete intersection. We provide an effective construction of a local complete intersection for a given Hilbert function. We prove that the symmetric decomposition of such a complete intersection ideal is determined by its Hilbert function.