On fiber cones of ${\mathfrak m}$-primary ideals

Abstract

Two formulas for the multiplicity of the fiber cone $F(I)=\oplus_{n=0}^{\infty} I^n/\m I^n$ of an $\m$-primary ideal of a $d$-dimensional Cohen-Macaulay local ring $(R,\m)$ are derived in terms of the mixed multiplicity $e_{d-1}(\m | I),$ the multiplicity $e(I)$ and superficial elements. As a consequence, the Cohen-Macaulay property of $F(I)$ when $I$ has minimal mixed multiplicity or almost minimal mixed multiplicity is characterized in terms of reduction number of $I$ and lengths of certain ideals. We also characterize Cohen-Macaulay and Gorenstein property of fiber cones of $\m$-primary ideals with a $d$-generated minimal reduction $J$ satisfying (i) $\ell(I^2/JI)=1$ or (ii) $\ell(I\m/J\m)=1.$