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# Hierarchies of simplicial complexes via the BGG-correspondence

## Introduction

A simplicial complex $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ on $`\{1,\mathrm{},n\}`$ corresponds to a monomial ideal in the exterior algebra. Via the BGG-correspondence such an ideal transforms to a complex of coherent sheaves $`\stackrel{~}{L}(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ on the projective space $`𝐏^{n1}`$. In a recent paper, , J.E.Vatne and the author studied when the BGG-correspondence applied to a simplicial complex $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ gives rise to a complex $`\stackrel{~}{L}(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ with at most one non-zero cohomology sheaf $`𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta })`$. We showed that this happens exactly when the Alexander dual $`\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$ is a Cohen-Macaulay simplicial complex. We then singled out a particularly nice class of coherent sheaves, the locally Cohen-Macaulay sheaves and asked when $`𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ belonged to this class. This turned out to happen when both $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ and $`\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$ are Cohen-Macaulay.

In this paper we study this further in several directions. Firstly we develop in Section 3 criteria for telling which cohomology sheaves of $`\stackrel{~}{L}(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ are non-zero and if so, what their support is. We also describe the multigraded Hilbert functions of these cohomology sheaves. This is related to the cellular complexes of .

Secondly, we again single out nice classes of coherent sheaves and ask when a simplicial complex $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is such that $`𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ is in such a class. This time we consider the class of coherent sheaves $`𝒮\text{h}_a`$ which can occur as $`a`$’th syzygy sheaf in a locally free resolution of a coherent sheaf. Thus when $`a`$ is $`1`$ we have the torsion free sheaves, when $`a`$ is $`2`$ the reflexive sheaves and when $`a`$ is $`n1`$ the vector bundles. In Section 4 we consider the class $`𝒞_a`$ of simplicial complexes $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ such that $`𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ is in $`𝒮\text{h}_a`$, giving us a ”hierarchy” $`𝒞=𝒞_0𝒞_1\mathrm{}`$ of simplicial complexes. Note that $`𝒞`$ is the class of Alexander duals of Cohen-Macaulay simplicial complexes. There turns out to be nice, compact criteria for membership in the classes $`𝒞_a`$ and when taking restrictions and links of a $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ in $`𝒞_a`$ these are predictably in $`𝒞_a`$ and $`𝒞_{a1}`$ respectively. (Via Alexander duals this generalizes the fact that the link of a Cohen-Macaulay simplicial complex is Cohen-Macaulay.)

The three most important invariants of a simplicial complex $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is $`n`$, its dimension $`d1`$ and $`c`$, the largest integer such that all $`c`$-sets are in $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$. Via certain nice additional properties which one may put on sheaves in $`𝒮\text{h}_a`$ we further single out a particular nice subclass of $`𝒞_a`$. When $`a`$ is $`0`$ this subclass turns out to be the class studied in , the bi-Cohen-Macaulay simplicial complexes. When $`a`$ is $`c`$, the maximal interesting value for $`a`$, it turns out that we get exactly the Steiner systems $`S(c,d,n)`$. In general for each $`a`$, the simplicial complexes of this nice subclass of $`𝒞_a`$ will have $`f`$-vectors depending only on $`c,d`$ and $`n`$.

Now taking Alexander duals of the classes $`𝒞_a`$ we get in Section 5 a ”hierarchy” of Cohen-Macaulay simplicial complexes $`𝒞=𝒞_0𝒞_1\mathrm{}`$. The simplicial complexes in $`𝒞_a`$ turn out to be exactly the $`a+1`$-Cohen-Macaulay simplicial complexes as defined by K. Baclawski . (Thus the simplicial complexes in $`𝒞_a`$ are the Alexander duals of the $`a+1`$-Cohen-Macaulay simplicial complexes.) After translating most of the results for the classes $`𝒞_a`$ and its subclasses to the classes $`𝒞_a`$ and its subclasses, we consider the subclass of $`𝒞`$ consisting of Gorenstein\* simplicial complexes $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$. This class corresponds exactly to the subclass of $`𝒞_1`$ with $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{d1}(\mathrm{\Delta })=k`$ and is the class of Cohen-Macaulay simplicial complexes $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ such that $`𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})`$ is a torsion free rank one coherent sheaf. Moreover we show that this sheaf may be naturally identified with the associated coherent sheaf of the ideal defining the Stanley-Reisner ring of $`\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$.

Having described the contents of Sections 3,4, and 5 we inform that Section 1 contains preliminaries and techniques for dealing with simplicial complexes. Section 2 describes the BGG-correspondence and the classes of coherent sheaves we single out for study, namely the classes of sheaves which can be $`a`$’th syzygy sheaves in a locally free resolution. In the last section, Section 6, we pose some problems for further study.

## 1. Simplicial complexes.

Denote by $`[n]`$ the set of integers $`\{1,\mathrm{},n\}`$. A simplicial complex $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ on $`[n]`$ is a family of subsets of $`[n]`$ such that if $`YX[n]`$ and $`X`$ is in $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ then $`Y`$ is in $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$.

### 1.1. Notions

We recall some notions for simplicial complexes. An element in $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is called a face of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$, and a maximal face is a facet. If $`d`$ is the maximal cardinality of a face of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$, the dimension of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is $`d1`$. If $`c`$ is the largest integer such that all $`c`$-sets in $`[n]`$ are in $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$, we call $`c1`$ the frame dimension of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$. By convention the empty simplex $`\mathrm{}`$ has $`c=1`$ (while $`\{\mathrm{}\}`$ has $`c=0`$).

The Alexander dual simplicial complex $`\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$ is the simplicial complex on $`[n]`$ consisting of all $`F`$ in $`[n]`$ such that the complement $`F^c=[n]\backslash F`$ is not in $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$. Let $`d^{}1`$ and $`c^{}1`$ be the dimension and frame dimension of $`\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$. It is easily seen that

$$n=d+c^{}+1,n=d^{}+c+1.$$

Now we introduce the following notation. Let $`RST`$ be a partition of $`[n]`$ into three disjoint subsets, and let

$$\mathrm{\Delta }_R^{S,T}=\{FR|FS\mathrm{\Delta }\}$$

which is a simplicial complex on $`R`$. Note that $`\mathrm{\Delta }_{S^c}^{S,\mathrm{}}`$ is the link $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S`$, and that $`\mathrm{\Delta }_R^{\mathrm{},R^c}`$ is the restriction $`\mathrm{\Delta }_R`$ to $`R`$. Also note that $`\mathrm{\Delta }_R^{S,T}`$ is $`\mathrm{}`$ iff $`S`$ is not a face of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$.

###### Lemma 1.1.

$$(\mathrm{\Delta }_R^{S,T})^{}=(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})_R^{T,S}.$$

###### Proof.

Let $`F`$ be a subset of $`R`$. That $`F`$ is in $`(\mathrm{\Delta }_R^{S,T})^{}`$ means that $`R\backslash F`$ is not in $`\mathrm{\Delta }_R^{S,T}`$ or $`(R\backslash F)S`$ not in $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$.

That $`F`$ is in $`(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})_R^{T,S}`$ means that $`FT`$ is in $`\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$ or $`[n]\backslash (FT)`$ not in $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$. But the latter is $`(R\backslash F)S`$. ∎

### 1.2. Homology

Let $`V`$ be a vector space over a field $`k`$ with basis $`e_1,\mathrm{},e_n`$ and $`E=E(V)`$ the exterior algebra $`_0^n^iV`$. Let $`W=V^{}`$ be the dual space with dual basis $`x_1,\mathrm{},x_n`$. Consider the monomials $`e_{i_1}\mathrm{}e_{i_r}`$ in $`E`$ such that $`\{i_1,\mathrm{},i_r\}`$ is not in $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$. They form a basis for an ideal $`J_\mathrm{\Delta }`$ in $`E`$.

Dualizing the inclusion $`J_\mathrm{\Delta }E`$ we get an exact sequence of $`E`$-modules

(1)
$$0C_\mathrm{\Delta }E(W)(J_\mathrm{\Delta })^{}0.$$

where $`C_\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is the kernel. A basis for $`C_\mathrm{\Delta }`$ consist of all monomials $`x_{i_1}\mathrm{}x_{i_r}`$ such that $`\{i_1,\mathrm{},i_r\}`$ are in $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$. Left multiplication with $`u=e_1+e_2+\mathrm{}+e_n`$ gives a differential $`d`$ on $`C_\mathrm{\Delta }`$ and the reduced homology of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is defined by ($`W`$ has degree $`1`$)

$$\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta })=H^{p1}(C_\mathrm{\Delta },d).$$

Note that via the isomorphism of $`E`$-modules between $`E(V)`$ and $`E(W)(n)`$, the ideal $`J_\mathrm{\Delta }`$ gets identified with the submodule $`C_\mathrm{\Delta }^{}(n)`$ of $`E(W)(n)`$. We therefore get an exact sequence

(2)
$$0C_\mathrm{\Delta }E(W)(C_\mathrm{\Delta }^{})^{}(n)0.$$

###### Lemma 1.2.

$`\stackrel{~}{H}_{n3p}(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta })^{}.`$

###### Proof.

Since the differential on $`E(W)`$ is acyclic we get from (2)

$$H^{p1}(C_\mathrm{\Delta })H^{n2p}((C_\mathrm{\Delta }^{})^{})=H^{p+2n}(C_\mathrm{\Delta }^{})^{}.$$

### 1.3. Reducing

Now if $`[n]`$ is partioned as $`R\{x\}`$ we get a short exact sequence of $`E`$-modules

$$0C_{\mathrm{\Delta }_R}C_\mathrm{\Delta }C_{\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }\{x\}}(1)0.$$

The following is a basic kind of general deduction from this type of exact sequence.

###### Proposition 1.3.

Let $`RST`$ be a partition of $`[n]`$ and suppose $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_R^{S,T})`$ is non-zero.

a) (Reducing $`S`$.) Given $`S^{}S`$. Then there are $`R^{}R`$ and $`T^{}T`$ such that $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p^{}(\mathrm{\Delta }_R^{}^{S^{},T^{}})`$ is non-zero, where $`p^{}p`$ is the cardinality of $`R^{}\backslash R`$.

b) (Reducing $`T`$.) Given $`T^{}T`$. Then there are $`R^{}R`$ and $`S^{}S`$ such that $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_R^{}^{S^{},T^{}})`$ is non-zero.

c) (Reducing $`R`$.) Given $`R^{}R`$. Then there are $`S^{}S`$ and $`T^{}T`$ such that $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p^{}(\mathrm{\Delta }_R^{}^{S^{},T^{}})`$ is non-zero where $`pp^{}`$ is the cardinality of $`S^{}\backslash S`$.

###### Proof.

All of these just follow from the exact sequence

$$0C_{\mathrm{\Delta }_R^{S,T\{x\}}}C_{\mathrm{\Delta }_{R\{x\}}^{S,T}}C_{\mathrm{\Delta }_R^{S\{x\},T}}(1)0$$

where $`RST\{x\}`$ is a partition of $`[n]`$, by running long exact cohomology sequences. ∎

Remark 1.4. This proposition generalizes Corollary 4.4 of .

Notation 1.5. We shall usually write $`\mathrm{\Delta }_R^{S,T}`$ for $`\mathrm{\Delta }_{[n]\backslash R}^{S,T}`$ (in which case $`R=ST`$). Often we shall also drop the $`T`$ and write this simply as $`\mathrm{\Delta }_R^S`$. In general when $`Y`$ is a set we shall use the lower case letter $`y`$ to denote the cardinality of $`Y`$. For instance given $`\mathrm{\Delta }_R^S`$ then $`r`$ and $`s`$ will be the cardinalities of $`R`$ and $`S`$ respectively.

###### Corollary 1.6.

Suppose $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_{ST}^{S,T})`$ is non-zero. Then $`c1p+sd1`$ and the following holds.

a) If $`p+s=c1`$ and $`S^{}S`$ then $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p^{}(\mathrm{\Delta }_{S^{}T}^{S^{},T})`$ is non-zero, where $`p^{}+s^{}=c1`$.

b) If $`p+s=d1`$ and $`T^{}T`$ then $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_{ST^{}}^{S,T^{}})`$ is non-zero.

c) If $`p0`$ then $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{p1}(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S^{})`$ is non-zero for some $`S^{}`$ strictly containing $`S`$.

d) $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p^{}(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)`$ is non-zero for some $`R`$ and $`p^{}p`$.

e) $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S^{})`$ is non-zero for some $`S^{}`$ containing $`S`$.

###### Proof.

The frame dimension of $`\mathrm{\Delta }_{ST}^{S,T}`$ is $`cs1`$. If therefore $`p<cs1`$ then $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_{ST}^{S,T})`$ is zero. Similarly the dimension of $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S`$ is $`ds1`$ and so if $`pds`$ then $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_{ST}^{S,T})`$ is zero.

a) Reduce $`S`$ to $`S^{}`$ and get $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p^{}(\mathrm{\Delta }_{S^{}T^{}}^{S^{},T^{}})`$ non-zero. First note we must have $`p^{}+s^{}c1`$. Also we have $`p^{}p=s+ts^{}t^{}`$. Since $`t^{}t`$ we must have $`T=T^{}`$ and $`p^{}+s^{}=c1`$. Part b) is shown similiarly as a).

c) We have $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_R^{S,T})`$ non-zero. Now reduce $`R`$. Sooner or later $`S`$ increases to $`\stackrel{~}{S}=S\{x\}`$ such that

(3) $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{p1}(\mathrm{\Delta }_{\stackrel{~}{R}}^{\stackrel{~}{S},\stackrel{~}{T}})0.`$
This is so since otherwise we would get $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_{\mathrm{}}^{S,S^c})`$ non-zero which is impossible. Now reducing $`\stackrel{~}{T}`$ in (3) to $`\mathrm{}`$ we get $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{p1}(\mathrm{\Delta }_S^{}^{S^{},\mathrm{}})`$ non-zero.

d) and e) follow by reducing $`S`$, respectively $`T`$, to the empty set. ∎

For later we need the following.

###### Lemma 1.7.

If $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is not the $`n1`$-simplex or the empty simplex, then $`H_{c1}(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)`$ is non-zero for some $`S`$.

###### Proof.

Let $`R`$ be a $`c+1`$-set which is not a face of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$. Then clearly $`H_{c1}(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)`$ is non-zero. Now reduce $`T(=R^c)`$ to $`\mathrm{}`$, and get $`H_{c1}(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)`$ non-zero. ∎

### 1.4. CLeray and Cohen-Macaulay simplicial complexes

For an integer $`e`$, a simplicial complex $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is called $`e`$-Leray, \[15, p.12\], if $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)=0`$ for all $`pe`$ and subsets $`R`$ of $`[n]`$. Motivated by this we make the following definition.

Definition 1.8. A simplicial complex $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is CLeray if $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)=0`$ for all $`pc`$, that is for all $`p`$ greater than the frame dimension of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$, and subsets $`R`$ of $`[n]`$. (Note that we do not speak of a complex being say, 3Leray or 2Leray. One can speak of a complex being CLeray or 3-Leray.)

Note that when $`c=0`$ this gives that $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is a simplex on the vertices it contains.

Recall that $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is Cohen-Macaulay if $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)=0`$ when $`p+sd2`$. The class of CLeray and Cohen-Macaulay simplicial complexes are now seen to be Alexander dual.

###### Proposition 1.9.

$`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is CLeray iff $`\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$ is Cohen-Macaulay.

###### Proof.

By Lemmata 1.1 and 1.2

$$\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)^{}=\stackrel{~}{H}_{r3p}((\mathrm{\Delta }_R^{\mathrm{},R^c})^{})=\stackrel{~}{H}_{r3p}((\mathrm{\Delta }^{})_R^{R^c,\mathrm{}})=\stackrel{~}{H}_{r3p}(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }^{}R^c).$$

The condition that $`pc`$ is equivalent to $`n3pd^{}2`$ and so we get the statement. ∎

Another description of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ being CLeray is the following.

###### Proposition 1.10.

$`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is CLeray iff $`\stackrel{~}{H}_c(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)=0`$ for all $`S`$ in $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$.

###### Proof.

Suppose $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is not CLeray. Then $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)`$ is non-zero for some $`R`$ and $`pc`$. By Corollary 1.6 e), we get $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)`$ non-zero for some $`S`$ and so $`\stackrel{~}{H}_c(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S^{})`$ non-zero for some $`S^{}`$ in $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ by 1.6 c).

Conversely, if $`\stackrel{~}{H}_c(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)`$ is non-zero, then by Corollary 1.6 d), $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)`$ is non-zero for some $`pc`$ and so $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is not CLeray. ∎

###### Corollary 1.11.

$`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is Cohen-Macaulay iff $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)`$ is zero for $`p+r=d2`$.

###### Proof.

Using Lemma 1.2 this follows from the above. ∎

## 2. The BGG-correspondence and a hierarchiy of coherent sheaves

Recall that $`W=V^{}`$ is the dual space of $`V`$ and let $`S=S(W)`$ be the symemtric algebra on $`W`$. If $`M=_{i𝐙}M_i`$ is a graded module over $`E`$ we can form the complex

$$L(M):\mathrm{}S(i)_kM_i\stackrel{d^i}{}S(i+1)_kM_{i+1}\mathrm{}$$

with differential given by

$$d^i(sm)=\underset{\alpha =1}{\overset{n}{}}sx_\alpha e_\alpha m.$$

Sheafifying this we get a complex of coherent sheaves

$$\stackrel{~}{L}(M):\mathrm{}𝒪_{𝐏^{n1}}(i)_kM_i\stackrel{d^i}{}𝒪_{𝐏^{n1}}(i+1)_kM_{i+1}\mathrm{}$$

on the projective space $`𝐏^{n1}`$. This, in short, is the BGG-correspondence between graded modules over the exterior algebra and complexes of coherent sheaves on $`𝐏^{n1}`$, originally from . Our main reference for this will be .

Let us give som properties of this correspondence.

### 2.1. Restriction to linear subspaces

Let $`V^{}`$ be a subspace of $`V`$ so $`W^{}=V^{}`$ is a quotient space of $`W`$. Via $`E(V^{})E(V)`$, the module $`M`$ may be restricted to a module $`\text{res}M`$ over $`E(V^{})`$. Also via $`S(W)S(W^{})`$ we may form the quotient complex $`L(M)_SS(W^{})`$. These are related by

$$L^{}(\text{res}M)=L(M)_SS(W^{})$$

where $`L^{}`$ is the corresponding functor for $`E(V^{})`$-modules.

### 2.2. Duals of complexes

Now we consider $`^nW`$ to be a module over $`E`$ in degree $`n`$.

Let $`M^{}=\text{Hom}_k(M,^nW).`$ Then we have canonically

$$L(M^{})=\text{Hom}_S(L(M),S(n)_k^nW)[n].$$

Sheafifying this, note that the canonical sheaf $`\omega _{𝐏^{n1}}`$ naturally identifies with the sheafification of $`S(n)_k^nW`$, we get

(4)
$$\stackrel{~}{L}(M^{})=om_{𝒪_{𝐏^{n1}}}(\stackrel{~}{L}(M),\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})[n].$$

In particular if the only nonzero cohomology of $`\stackrel{~}{L}(M)`$ is $`=H^a\stackrel{~}{L}(M)`$, a coherent sheaf, we see that

(5)
$$xt_{𝒪_{𝐏^{n1}}}^r(,\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})=H^{a+rn}\stackrel{~}{L}(M^{}).$$

### 2.3. Calculating Tor’s

For a graded module $`M`$ over $`E(V)`$ and $`v`$ an element of $`V`$, let $`H^p(M,v)`$ be the cohomology of the complex

$$M_{p1}\stackrel{v}{}M_p\stackrel{v}{}M_{p+1}.$$

Letting $`k(v)`$ be $`𝒪_{𝐏^{n1}}/_v`$ where $`_v`$ is the ideal sheaf of the point $`v`$ in $`𝐏^{n1}`$ we have, due to ,

$$H^p(M,v)=H^p(\stackrel{~}{L}(M)_{𝒪_{𝐏^{n1}}}k(v)).$$

In particular, if $`=H^0\stackrel{~}{L}(M)`$ is the only non-zero cohomology

$$H^p(M,v)=\text{Tor}_p^{𝒪_{𝐏^{n1}}}(,k(v)).$$

This is what will be needed about the BGG-correspondence. Now we turn to describing some classes of coherent sheaves.

### 2.4. A hierarchy of coherent sheaves

Definition 2.1. A coherent sheaf $``$ on $`𝐏^{n1}`$ is an $`a`$’th syzygy sheaf if there is a locally free resolution of some coherent sheaf $``$

(6) $`_0\mathrm{}_{i1}\stackrel{d_i}{}_i\mathrm{}`$
such that $``$ is the kernel of $`d_{a1}`$.

Now let $`𝒮\text{h}=𝒮\text{h}^0`$ be the category of all coherent sheaves on $`𝐏^{n1}`$. For $`a1`$ let $`𝒮\text{h}_a`$ be the full subcategory of $`𝒮\text{h}`$ consisting of the sheaves which can occur as an $`a`$’th syzygy sheaves. There is then a filtration into “nicer and nicer” classes of coherent sheaves

$$𝒮\text{h}_0𝒮\text{h}_1\mathrm{}𝒮\text{h}_{n1}.$$

Note that $`𝒮\text{h}_1`$ are the torsion free sheaves, $`𝒮\text{h}_2`$ are the reflexive sheaves, i.e. sheaves $``$ such that the natural map $`^{}`$ is an isomorphism (here $`^{}`$ is $`om_{𝒪_{𝐏^{n1}}}(,\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})`$), and $`𝒮\text{h}_{n1}`$ are the vector bundles.

###### Proposition 2.2.

$``$ is in $`𝒮\text{h}_a`$ if and only if the codimension of the support of $`xt_{𝒪_{𝐏^{n1}}}^i(,\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})`$ is greater or equal to $`i+a`$ for all $`i>0`$.

###### Proof.

If $``$ is in $`𝒮\text{h}_a`$, then with the notation in (6), $`xt^i(,\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})`$ is equal to $`xt^{i+a}(,\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})`$ for $`i>0`$ and the statement follows by \[8, 20.9\].

For later use note the following.

Fact. If $``$ is a coherent sheaf with support in codimenison $`r`$, then the sheaf $`xt^i(,\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})`$ has codimension $`r`$ when $`i=r`$ and is zero when $`0<i<r`$. This follows for instance from \[8, 18.4\] and its proof.

Now assume $`xt^i(,\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})`$ has codimension greater or equal to $`i+a`$ for $`i1`$. If $`a1`$ it follows from the above fact that $``$ cannot have a torsion subsheaf, and so $``$ is in $`𝒮\text{h}_1`$.

Now let $`a2`$. Since $``$ is in $`𝒮\text{h}_1`$, there is an exact sequence

$$0^{}𝒫0$$

where $`𝒫`$ is the cokernel. Let $`1+r`$ be the codimension of $`𝒫`$. Since any torsion free sheaf is locally free outside a codimension $`2`$ subset, $`1+r`$ is $`2`$. Now we get a long exact sequence

$`xt^r(^{},\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})xt^r(,\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})xt^{r+1}(𝒫,\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})`$
$``$ $`xt^{r+1}(^{},\omega _{𝐏^{n1}}).`$
Hence if $`𝒫`$ is non-zero, that is $``$ is not in $`𝒮\text{h}_2`$, then $`xt^r(,\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})`$ has codimension $`1+r`$, which is against our assumption. Hence $`𝒫`$ is zero and so $``$ is in $`𝒮\text{h}_2`$.

Now we look at the situation when $`a3`$. We know then that $``$ is reflexive. Let

$$_0\mathrm{}_m$$

be a locally free resolution of $``$. Dualizing we get

$$^{}_0{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{}_m^{}$$

with cohomology $`xt^i(,\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})`$ at $`_i^{}`$. Now we claim that $`xt^i(^{},\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})`$ is zero for $`0<i<a1`$. More generally, if $`𝒦_r`$ is the kernel of $`_r{}_{}{}^{}_{r+1}^{}`$, then $`xt^i(𝒦_r,\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})`$ is zero for $`0<i<r+a1`$. This follows easily by breaking the complex $`_{}`$ into short exact sequences and using the fact noted above. If we take a locally free resolution $`𝒟_{}`$ of $`^{}`$ and dualize this we get a complex

$$^{}𝒟_{a1}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{}𝒟_0{}_{}{}^{}𝒟_1{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{}$$

which is exact at all $`𝒟_i^{}`$ when $`i>0`$. Hence $``$ which is equal to $`^{}`$ is in $`𝒮\text{h}_a`$. ∎

To obtain even nicer classes of coherent sheaves, we can consider the subcategory $`𝒮\text{h}_a^{}`$ of $`𝒮\text{h}_a`$ consisting of $``$ such that there exist $`r>0`$ with $`xt^i(,\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})`$ zero except possibly when $`i`$ is $`0`$ or $`r`$.

## 3. Simplicial complexes via the BGG-correspondence

Given a simplicial complex $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ over $`[n]`$, recall the module $`C_\mathrm{\Delta }`$ over $`E(V)`$. Using the BGG-correspondence, we may form the complex $`\stackrel{~}{L}(C_\mathrm{\Delta })`$ of coherent sheaves on $`𝐏^{n1}`$. Of interest then is the cohomology sheaves of $`\stackrel{~}{L}(C_\mathrm{\Delta })`$. The following basic result was established in .

###### Theorem 3.1.

a) $`\stackrel{~}{L}(C_\mathrm{\Delta })`$ has at most one non-zero cohomology group $``$ if and only if $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is CLeray. In this case $`=H^c\stackrel{~}{L}(C_\mathrm{\Delta }).`$

b) The cohomology sheaf $``$ is locally Cohen-Macaulay sheaf if and only if $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is both CLeray and Cohen-Macaulay.

Notation 3.2. We write $`L(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ for $`L(C_\mathrm{\Delta })`$ and $`S^a(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ and $`𝒮^a(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ for the $`a`$’th cohomology groups of $`L(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ and $`\stackrel{~}{L}(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ respectively. In case $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is CLeray we simply write $`𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ for $`𝒮^c(\mathrm{\Delta })`$. If $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is both CLeray and Cohen-Macaulay we call $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ bi-Cohen-Macaulay.

We shall now establish a more general result, namely determine for any $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ which cohomology sheaves of $`\stackrel{~}{L}(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ are non-zero. We first establish some other results.

###### Lemma 3.3.

The associated primes of each cohomology group $`H^pL(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ are of the form $`(x_i)_{iR}`$ where $`R`$ is a subset of $`[n]`$.

###### Proof.

$`H^pL(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ is graded by $`𝐙^{n+1}`$. By \[8, Exc. 35\] an associated prime is also graded by $`𝐙^{n+1}`$. But the only such prime ideals are of the above form. ∎

### 3.1. Local ranks

The following Proposition and Corollary is due to T. Ekedahl. Let $`v=\lambda _ie_i`$ be a linear form in $`E(V)`$. It can also be considered as a point in $`𝐏^{n1}`$. We call the set $`R=\{i|\lambda _i0\}`$ the support of $`v`$.

###### Proposition 3.4.

Let $`v=\lambda _ie_i`$ be a point in $`𝐏^{n1}`$ with support $`R`$. Then

$$H^p(\stackrel{~}{L}(\mathrm{\Delta })_{𝒪_{𝐏^{n1}}}k(v))=_{SR^c}\stackrel{~}{H}_{p1s}(\mathrm{\Delta }_R^{S,T}).$$

###### Proof.

First note the following general fact. If $`v=\lambda _ie_i`$ where all $`\lambda _i`$ are non-zero, let $`u=_{i=1}^ne_i`$. Then

$$H^p(C_\mathrm{\Delta },v)=H^p(C_\mathrm{\Delta },u)=\stackrel{~}{H}_{p1}(\mathrm{\Delta }).$$

This is because the map $`C_\mathrm{\Delta }C_\mathrm{\Delta }`$ defined by $`x_i\lambda _ix_i`$ gives an isomorphism between the complexes $`(C_\mathrm{\Delta },v)`$ and $`(C_\mathrm{\Delta },u)`$.

Now by Paragraph 2.3

$$H^p(\stackrel{~}{L}(\mathrm{\Delta })_{𝒪_{𝐏^{n1}}}k(v))=H^p(C_\mathrm{\Delta },v).$$

Let $`V_R`$ be the subspace of $`V`$ spanned by the $`e_i`$ where $`i`$ is in $`R`$. Restricting $`C_\mathrm{\Delta }`$ via $`E(V_R)E(V)`$ we get

$$\text{res}C_\mathrm{\Delta }=_{SR^c}C_{\mathrm{\Delta }_R^{S,T}}(s).$$

Therefore

$$H^p(C_\mathrm{\Delta },v)=_{SR^c}H^{p+s}(C_{\mathrm{\Delta }_R^{S,T}},v)=_{SR^c}\stackrel{~}{H}_{ps1}(\mathrm{\Delta }_R^{S,T}).$$

###### Corollary 3.5.

a) The rank of $`H^p\stackrel{~}{L}(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ is the dimension of $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{p1}(\mathrm{\Delta })`$.

b) Let $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ be CLeray and $`v`$ a point in $`𝐏^{n1}`$ with support $`R`$. Then

$$\text{Tor}_p^{𝒪_{𝐏^{n1}}}(𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta }),k(v))=_{SR^c}\stackrel{~}{H}_{p+c1s}(\mathrm{\Delta }_R^{S,T}).$$

###### Proof.

Immediate. ∎

Example 3.6. Let the dimension of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ be $`1`$, so $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is a graph and suppose $`c=1`$. Then $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is CLeray iff $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is a forest, $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is Cohen-Macaulay iff $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is connected and $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is bi-Cohen-Macaulay iff $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is a tree.

We can compute the rank of $`𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ at a point $`v`$ with support $`R`$ as follows. (We use lower case letters to denote the dimension of a cohomology group.)

$$\text{rank}𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta })_v=\stackrel{~}{h}_0(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)+\underset{xR^c}{}\stackrel{~}{h}_1(\mathrm{\Delta }_R^{\{x\}}).$$

Note that $`\stackrel{~}{h}_1(\mathrm{\Delta }_R^{\{x\}})`$ is non-zero iff $`\mathrm{\Delta }_R^{\{x\}}`$ is $`\{\mathrm{}\}`$ and this holds iff $`R\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }\{x\}`$ is $`\mathrm{}`$. Thus

$$\text{rank}𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta })_v=\stackrel{~}{h}_0(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)+\mathrm{\#}\{x|R\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }\{x\}=\mathrm{}\}.$$

### 3.2. Cohomology modules

Now we shall investigate the cohomology modules of $`L(\mathrm{\Delta })`$. Note that the complex $`L(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ is simply the cellular complex, see , obtained by associating to vertex $`i`$ in $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ the monomial variable $`x_i`$. For $`𝐚`$ in $`𝐍^n`$ let $`\mathrm{\Delta }_𝐚`$ be the subcomplex of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ on the vertices $`i`$ for which $`a_i>0`$, and call the set of such $`i`$ the support of $`𝐚`$. The following observation is part of the proof of \[6, Prop.1.2\] and gives the multigraded Hilbert functions of the cohomology modules.

###### Proposition 3.7.

a) $`H^pL(\mathrm{\Delta })_𝐚`$ is isomorphic to $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{p1}(\mathrm{\Delta }_𝐚)`$.

b) Let $`m`$ be a monomial and $`𝐛=𝐚+\mathrm{deg}_{𝐙^n}m`$. There is then a commutative diagram

$$\begin{array}{ccc}\stackrel{~}{H}_{p1}(\mathrm{\Delta }_𝐚)& & \stackrel{~}{H}_{p1}(\mathrm{\Delta }_𝐛)\\ & & & & \\ H^pL(\mathrm{\Delta })_𝐚& \stackrel{m}{}& H^pL(\mathrm{\Delta })_𝐛\end{array}$$

###### Proof.

The graded part $`L(\mathrm{\Delta })_𝐚`$ identifies naturally with the complex $`(C_{\mathrm{\Delta }_𝐚},d)`$ as follows. Let $`M`$ be the monomial corresponding to $`𝐚`$. Now

$$L^p(\mathrm{\Delta })=S(p)_k(C_\mathrm{\Delta })_p=_ISu_I$$

where $`u_I=1_kx_I`$. There is a natural map

$$(C_{\mathrm{\Delta }_𝐚})_pL^p(\mathrm{\Delta })_𝐚$$

given by

$$x_IM/x_Iu_I.$$

We verify easily that this is an isomorphism and commutes with the differentials in $`C_{\mathrm{\Delta }_𝐚}`$ and $`L(\mathrm{\Delta })_𝐚`$. This gives a) and b). ∎

###### Corollary 3.8.

$`H^pL(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ is zero iff $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{p1}(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)`$ is zero for all $`R[n]`$.

Now we look closer at the cohomology modules of $`L(\mathrm{\Delta })`$. For a subset $`R`$ of $`[n]`$ let $`P(R)`$ be the homogeneous prime ideal in the polynomial ring $`S`$ defining the linear subspace $`𝐏^{n1}`$ spanned by the $`e_i`$ where $`i`$ is in $`R`$. That is $`P(R)=(x_i)_{iR}`$.

###### Theorem 3.9.

a) The associated primes of $`H^pL(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ are the prime ideals $`P(R)`$ where $`R`$ is maximal such that $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{p1}(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)`$ is non-zero.

b) The depth of $`H^pL(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ is $`p+1`$ for $`p1`$.

c) For $`R`$ as in a) there is an isomorphism

$$(S/P(R))(r)_{(P(R))}^\rho H^pL(\mathrm{\Delta })_{(P(R))}$$

where $`\rho `$ is the dimension of $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{p1}(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)`$.

###### Proof.

a) Let $`R`$ be maximal such that $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{p1}(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)`$ is non-zero. Let $`m`$ in $`H^pL(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ have support $`R`$. Then $`x_im=0`$ for $`i`$ not in $`R`$, so clearly $`P(R)`$ is the annihilator of $`m`$ and is an associated prime.

Conversely, let $`P(R)`$ is an associated prime, the annihilator of a multihomogeneous element $`m`$. Then $`x_im`$ is zero for $`i`$ not in $`R`$, and all $`\mathrm{\Pi }_{iR}x_i^{r_i}m`$ are non-zero. Hence $`H^pL(\mathrm{\Delta })_𝐚`$ is nonzero if the support of $`𝐚`$ is $`R`$ and zero if the support of $`𝐚`$ strictly contains $`R`$ and so $`R`$ is maximal such that $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{p1}(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)`$ is nonzero.

b) Let

$$H^pL(\mathrm{\Delta })F_0F_1\mathrm{}F_r$$

be a minimal multigraded resolution. Say that $`𝐚`$ in $`𝐍^n`$ is of characteristic type if every $`a_i`$ is $`0`$ or $`1`$. By construction of the complex $`L(\mathrm{\Delta })`$, all the minimal generators of $`H^pL(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ are of characteristic type and of degree $`p+1`$. It is easily seen that the same holds for the kernel of $`F_0H^pL(\mathrm{\Delta })`$, and so for all kernels. So the generators of $`F_l`$ are of characteristic type and so have degree $`n`$. Hence the length $`r`$ of the resolution is $`np1`$. By the Auslander-Buchsbaum theorem $`H^pL(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ has depth $`p+1`$.

c) Let $`\delta (R)`$ in $`𝐍^n`$ have $`1`$ in position $`i`$ if $`i`$ is not in $`R`$ and $`0`$ otherwise. Since $`H^pL(\mathrm{\Delta })_{\delta (R)}`$ is isomorphic to $`H^{p1}(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)`$ there is a sequence

$$0(S/P(R))(r)^\rho H^pL(\mathrm{\Delta })Q0$$

where $`\rho `$ is the $`k`$-dimension of $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{p1}(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)`$ and $`Q`$ is the cokernel. Now localizing we find that $`Q_{(P(R))}`$ is zero since $`\mathrm{\Pi }_{iR}x_iQ`$ is zero. ∎

###### Corollary 3.10.

a) The sheaf $`H^p\stackrel{~}{L}(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ has no embedded linear subspaces and is supported on a reduced union of coordinate linear subspaces of $`𝐏^{n1}`$.

b) For $`p1`$, $`H^pL(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ is the graded global sections of the sheaf $`H^p\stackrel{~}{L}(\mathrm{\Delta })`$.

###### Proof.

The first statement follow from a) and c) of Theorem 3.9. To prove the last statement, let $`M=H^pL(\mathrm{\Delta })`$. By b) of Theorem 3.9 the local cohomology groups $`H_m^0(M)`$ and $`H_m^1(M)`$ are zero, \[8, Thm. A4.3\]. That $`_{k𝐙}\mathrm{\Gamma }(𝐏^{n1},\stackrel{~}{M}(k))`$ is equal to $`M`$ now follows by \[8, Thm. A4.1\]. ∎

## 4. Hierarchies of CLeray complexes

We consider the various hierarchies of coherent sheaves $`𝒮\text{h}_a`$ and subclasses of them and investigate simplicial complexes $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ such that $`𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ is in such a class.

### 4.1. $`a+1`$-CLeray simplicial complexes

Let $`𝒞_a`$ be the class of CLeray simplicial complexes $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ such that $`𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ is in $`𝒮\text{h}_a`$. Note that if $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is the $`c1`$-skeleton of the $`n1`$-simplex then $`𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ is the vector bundle $`\mathrm{\Omega }_{𝐏^{n1}}^c`$ and so $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a`$ for all $`a`$. We shall however make the convention that the $`c1`$-skeleton of the $`n1`$-simplex is in $`𝒞_a`$ iff $`ca1`$. Thus for instance $`𝒞_3`$ contains the $`1`$-skeleton but not the $`0`$-skeleton, $`\{\mathrm{}\}`$, or $`\mathrm{}`$. The simplicial complexes in $`𝒞_a`$ are now called $`a+1`$-CLeray. The following gives a criterion for $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ to be $`a+1`$-CLeray.

###### Theorem 4.1.

$`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is $`a+1`$-CLeray iff $`ca1`$ and

$$\stackrel{~}{H}_{ca}(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)=0,\text{for }sa.$$

In particular, if $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is not the $`a2`$-skeleton of the $`n1`$-simplex then $`ca`$.

###### Proof.

a) That $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a`$ means that $`xt^i(𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta }),\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})`$ has codimension $`i+a`$ for all $`i1`$. By (5) this sheaf is the cohomology sheaf

$$H^{c+in}\stackrel{~}{L}((C_\mathrm{\Delta })^{}).$$

Now by (2) there is an exact sequence

$$0C_\mathrm{\Delta }^{}E(W)(C_\mathrm{\Delta })^{}0$$

and so we get $`xt^i(𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta }),\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})`$ equal to $`H^{c+in+1}\stackrel{~}{L}(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})`$. That this is a sheaf with support in codimension $`i+a`$ means that

(7)
$$\stackrel{~}{H}_{ni2c}((\mathrm{\Delta }^{})_S)=0$$

when $`s<i+a`$. By Lemma 1.1 $`(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})_S`$ is $`(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)^{}`$. And so by Lemma 1.2, (7) is the same as

(8)
$$\stackrel{~}{H}_{c+is1}(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)=0$$

for $`s<i+a`$. Now put $`s=i+a1p`$ where $`p0`$. Then this becomes

(9)
$$\stackrel{~}{H}_{ca+p}(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)=0$$

for $`sap`$. By Corollary 1.6 c) if $`ca`$ then $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{ca}(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)`$ zero for $`sa`$ implies (9), so this latter is the condition that $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`a+1`$-CLeray when $`ca`$. When $`c<a`$, then again by Corollary 1.6 c), (9) is implied by $`\stackrel{~}{H}_1(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)`$ zero for $`sc+1`$ and this means that $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ has no faces of dimension $`c`$. Hence it is the $`c1`$-skeleton of the $`n1`$-simplex and by our convention we have $`c=a1`$. ∎

###### Corollary 4.2.

a) $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is $`a+1`$-CLeray iff $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_R^S)`$ is zero for $`p+sc`$ and $`pca`$.

b) If $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is $`a+1`$-CLeray, then $`\mathrm{\Delta }_R`$ is $`a+1`$-CLeray.

###### Proof.

a) Suppose $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_R^S)`$ is nonzero where $`p+sc`$ and $`pca`$ where $`ca`$. By Corollary 1.6 e) $`H_p(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S^{})`$ is nonzero for some $`S^{}`$ containing $`S`$ and by Corollary 1.6 c) we get $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{ca}(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S^{\prime \prime })`$ is nonzero where $`s^{\prime \prime }s^{}p(ca)`$. But then

$$s^{\prime \prime }p+s^{}(ca)c(ca)=a$$

and this is against assumption.

b) This is clear since the frame dimension of $`\mathrm{\Delta }_R`$ is greater or equal to that of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$. ∎

As stated after Definition 1.4, when $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is $`1`$-CLeray with $`c=0`$, then $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is a simplex on its vertices. In view of Theorem 4.1 it is of interest to investigate the $`a+1`$-CLeray $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$’s with minimal interesting frame dimension which is $`a1`$ (when the frame dimension is $`a2`$ it is the $`a2`$-skeleton of the $`n1`$-simplex).

###### Proposition 4.3.

$`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is $`c+1`$-Cleray iff any two distinct facets intersect in a subset of cardinality less than $`c`$. (If $`c=0`$ this means that there is only one facet.)

###### Proof.

Suppose $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is $`c+1`$-CLeray. Let $`F`$ and $`G`$ be two distinct facets such that the cardinality of $`S=FG`$ is maximal. Now we claim that $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S`$ is disconnected. Suppose not and let $`F=F_1S`$ and $`G=G_1S`$ where $`F_1G_1`$ is empty. Then there would be a path from some vertex $`f_1`$ in $`F_1`$ to some vertex $`g_1`$ in $`G_1`$ in $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S`$. Say the path starts with $`\{f_1,x\}`$ where $`x`$ is not a vertex in $`F_1`$. Then $`H=S\{f_1,x\}`$ is a face of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$, $`H`$ is not contained in $`F`$ and $`FH`$ has cardinality larger than $`S`$ which goes against our assumptions. Hence $`\stackrel{~}{H}_0(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)`$ is non-zero. By Theorem 4.1 a) we get that $`s<c`$.

In the other direction, given that distinct facets always intersect in cardinality $`<c`$, we see that $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S`$ when $`sc`$ is always a simplex. Hence $`\stackrel{~}{H}_0(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)`$ is zero and so $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is $`c+1`$-Cleray. ∎

By Corollary 1.6, if $`p+sc2`$ then $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)`$ is zero and Corollary 4.2 gives conditions on homology when $`p+sc`$. It is therefore of interest to investigate what happens when $`p+s=c1`$. The following is motivating for the classes studied in Subsection 4.3.

###### Proposition 4.4.

($`p+s=c1`$)

a) If $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{cs1}(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)`$ is zero and $`S^{}`$ contains $`S`$ then $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{cs^{}1}(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S^{})`$ is zero.

b) Suppose $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is $`a+1`$-CLeray. Then $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{ca}(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)`$ is nonzero for any face $`S`$ with $`s=a1`$.

###### Proof.

a) follows form Corollary 1.6 a) by contraposition.

b) Let $`S^{}`$ be a facet containing $`S`$ where $`s`$ is $`a1`$ Then $`\stackrel{~}{H}_1(\mathrm{\Delta }_S^{}^{S^{},\mathrm{}})`$ is non-zero. Reduce $`S^{}`$ to $`S`$ and get $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_R^{S,T})`$ non-zero and so $`p+sc1`$. Now reduce $`T`$ to $`\mathrm{}`$ and get $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }\stackrel{~}{S})`$ non-zero where $`\stackrel{~}{S}S`$. Since $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a`$, $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }\stackrel{~}{S})`$ is zero when $`p+\stackrel{~}{s}c`$ and $`pca`$. Hence either $`p+\stackrel{~}{s}c1`$ or $`pca1`$. The latter is impossible since $`p+a1`$ which is $`p+s`$ is $`c1`$ and the former gives $`\stackrel{~}{s}=s=a1`$ and so $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)`$ is non-zero. ∎

We now give a somewhat more conceptual description of what it means for a complex to be $`a+1`$-CLeray. First a lemma.

###### Lemma 4.5.

If $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is $`2`$-CLeray, the frame dimension of $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }\{x\}`$ is one less than that of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$.

###### Proof.

Since $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is 2-CLeray, $`c0`$. If $`c=0`$ this holds, so assume $`c1`$. We have $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }(\{x\}S))`$ zero for $`p+s+1c`$ and $`pc1`$, which reduces simply to the condition $`pc1`$. Thus by Lemma 1.7 the frame dimension of $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }\{x\}`$ is $`c2`$ and so must be equal to $`c2`$. ∎

###### Theorem 4.6.

$`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is $`a+1`$-CLeray iff every link $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S`$ with $`s=a`$ is CLeray with frame dimension $`ca1`$.

###### Proof.

We may assume $`ca1`$. If $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is $`a+1`$-CLeray then

$$\stackrel{~}{H}_{ca}\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }(ST)=0,\text{ when }s=a\text{ and }t0.$$

Since by Lemma 4.5 the frame dimension of $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S`$ is $`ca1`$, we get that $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S`$ is CLeray. Conversely, if each $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S`$ is CLeray of frame dimension $`ca1`$ then (4.1) holds and so $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is $`a+1`$-CLeray. ∎

### 4.2.  The classes $`𝒞_a^{}`$

Let $`𝒞_a^{}`$ be the class of CLeray simpicial complexes $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ such that $`𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ is in $`𝒮\text{h}_a^{}`$. The following gives a criterion for $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ to be in $`𝒞_a^{}`$.

###### Theorem 4.7.

$`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a^{}`$ iff $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)`$ is zero for all $`p`$ and $`s`$ in the range

$$cp+sd2$$

and also when $`p,s`$ are in the range

$$p+s=d1,pca.$$

In this case every facet has dimension $`c1`$ or $`d1`$.

###### Proof.

For $`𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ to be in $`𝒞_a^{}`$, there is some $`r`$ such that $`xt^i(𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta }),\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})`$ is zero except possibly when $`i`$ is $`0`$ or $`r`$, and in the latter case it has codimension $`r+a`$. By the argument of Theorem 4.1 this means that

$`H_{c+is1}(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)=0`$ $`\text{for all }s\text{ when }i0,r`$
$`H_{c+rs1}(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)=0`$ $`\text{for }s<a+r.`$
Letting $`p=c+is1`$ this gives $`H_p(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)`$ zero when $`p+sc`$ and $`p+sc+r1`$ or when $`p+s=c+r1`$ and $`pca`$. But let $`S`$ be a facet. Then $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S`$ is $`\{\mathrm{}\}`$ and so $`\stackrel{~}{H}_1(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)`$ is non-zero. Hence if $`sc+1`$, letting $`s=c+i`$, we see from (4.2) that we must have $`i=r`$ and so $`s=c+r`$. So all facets $`S`$ with $`sc+1`$ must have $`s=c+r`$ which is then equal to $`d`$. ∎

###### Corollary 4.8.

a) $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a^{}`$ iff $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_R^S)`$ is zero when $`p,s`$ (and $`r`$) are in the range

$$cp+sd2$$

and also when $`p`$ and $`s`$ are in the range

$$p+s=d1,pca.$$

b) If $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a^{}`$ then $`\mathrm{\Delta }_R`$ is in $`𝒞_a^{}`$.

###### Proof.

The proofs are analogous to those of Corollary 4.2. ∎

###### Theorem 4.9.

$`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a^{}`$ iff every link $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S`$ with $`s=a`$ is in $`𝒞_0^{}`$ with dimension $`da1`$ and frame dimension $`ca1`$ or is the $`ca1`$ skeleton of the simplex on $`[n]\backslash S`$.

###### Proof.

We can assume $`ca1`$. If now $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a^{}`$, the facets have dimension $`c1`$ or $`d1`$. In view of Lemma 1.7 the statement follows immediately from Theorem 4.6. ∎

Remark 4.10. The if direction is not true unless we assume the links to be of dimension $`da1`$ or $`ca1`$. If one simply assume the links are of frame dimension $`ca1`$ and are in $`𝒞_0^{}`$, then a counterexample is given by starting with the disjoint union of a $`2`$-simplex and a $`3`$-simplex and then adding all line segments between pairs of vertices of them.

### 4.3.  The classes $`𝒞_a^{}`$

By Proposition 4.4 the nicest behaviour one can expect for the homology groups $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)`$ when $`p+s=c1`$ and $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a`$ is

(11)
$$\stackrel{~}{H}_{ca1}(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)=0,\text{when }s=a.$$

We now let $`𝒞_a^{}`$ be the complexes $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ such that $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a^{}`$ and fulfills the condition (11).

(Note that when $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_{a+1}`$ then by Proposition 4.4, $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{ca1}(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)`$ is nonzero for $`s=a`$, so if $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a`$ and fulfills (11) then it is not in $`𝒞_{a+1}`$.)

Two special cases are interesting to take note of.

Example 4.11. If $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ in $`𝒞_a^{}`$ has $`c=a`$, the lowest interesting value for $`c`$, then the condition (11) says that $`H_1(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)`$ is zero for $`s=c=a`$. Hence by Theorem 4.7 all facets of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ have dimension $`d1`$, and by Proposition 4.3 any two facets intersect in a face of dimension $`c2`$. Hence we get precisely the Steiner systems $`S(c,d,n)`$. In particular the $`f`$-vector only depends on $`c,d`$, and $`n`$.

Example 4.12. When $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_0^{}`$ the condition (11) says $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{c1}(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ is zero and so $`𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ is a torsion sheaf. Then $`xt^i(𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta }),\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})`$ is nonzero only for $`i=dc`$ and so $`𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ is a locally Cohen-Macaulay sheaf. By  such $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ are bi-Cohen-Macaulay, i.e. both $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ and $`\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$ are Cohen-Macaulay and we showed that the $`f`$-vector of such $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ again only depends on $`n,d`$, and $`c`$. In fact we showed that the $`f`$-polynomial $`f_\mathrm{\Delta }(t)=_if_{i1}t^i`$ is

$$f_\mathrm{\Delta }(t)=(1+t)^{dc}(1+(nd+c)t+\mathrm{}+\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{nd+c}{c}\right)t^c).$$

By the following theorem and its corollary this generalizes.

###### Theorem 4.13.

$`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a^{}`$ iff each $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S`$ with $`s=a`$ is bi-Cohen-Macaulay with invariants $`na`$, $`da`$, and $`ca`$.

###### Proof.

Suppose $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a^{}`$. The condition (11) together with Proposition 4.4 a) gives $`H_1(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)`$ zero when $`s=c`$. Hence by Proposition 4.3 all facets of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ have dimension $`d1`$. This shows that $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S`$ has invariants $`na,da`$, and $`ca`$. It is now immediate that $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S`$ fulfills the condition to be in $`𝒞_0^{}`$ and this means that $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S`$ is bi-Cohen-Macaulay. In the converse direction it is immediate to see that $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ fulfills the condition to be in $`𝒞_a^{}`$. ∎

###### Corollary 4.14.

Suppose $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ in $`𝒞_a^{}`$ has invariants $`n,d`$, and $`ca`$. Then $`f_\mathrm{\Delta }(t)`$ is a polynomial $`f_a(n,d,c;t)`$ depending only on $`a,n,d`$, and $`c`$, and is given inductively as follows.

1) $`f_a^{}(n,d,c;t)/n=f_{a1}(n1,d1,c1;t)`$

2) $`f_0(n,d,c;t)=(1+t)^{dc}(1+(nd+c)t+\mathrm{}+\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{nd+c}{c}\right)t^c).`$

###### Proof.

We may assume $`a1`$ and assume first that $`c2`$. By induction the $`f`$-polynomial of $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }\{x\}`$ is

$$g(t)=f_{a1}(n1,d1,c1;t)$$

and is independent of $`x`$. Now if $`F`$ is any $`i`$-dimensional face of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$, then $`F\backslash \{x\}`$ is an $`i1`$-dimensional face of $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }\{x\}`$ for each $`x`$ in $`F`$. Therefore $`ng_{i1}`$ counts all pairs $`(F,x)`$ where $`x`$ is in $`F`$. But this is also equal to to $`f_i(i+1)`$ and so

$`ng_{i1}`$ $`=`$ $`f_i(i+1)`$
$`ng(t)`$ $`=`$ $`f_\mathrm{\Delta }^{}(t).`$
In case $`c=1`$ then $`a=1`$ and $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is a disjoint union of $`n/d`$ simplexes of dimension $`d1`$ and so

$$f_\mathrm{\Delta }(t)=(n/d)(1+t)^d+1n/d$$

and so 1) also holds in this case since

$$f_0(n1,d1,0;t)=(1+t)^{d1},$$

Remark 4.15. The $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ in $`𝒞_a^{}`$ are $`a`$-$`(n,d,\lambda )`$ block designs (see \[5, Chap.14\]), where $`\lambda `$ is the number of facets of $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S`$ for $`S`$ any face of cadinality $`a`$. One may see that $`\lambda `$ is $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{nd+ca}{ca}\right)`$.

The following generalizes the fact that when $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_0^{}`$ then $`𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ is a locally Cohen-Macaulay sheaf of codimenison $`dc`$ and so $`xt^{dc}(𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta }),\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})`$ is a locally Cohen-Macaulay sheaf.

###### Proposition 4.16.

If $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a^{}`$, then the only non-vanishing higher $`xt`$-sheaf, $`xt^{dc}(𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta }),\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})`$, is a locally Cohen-Macaulay sheaf.

###### Proof.

For short write $``$ for $`xt^{dc}(𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta }),\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})`$. The sequence

$$0C_\mathrm{\Delta }^{}E(W)(C_\mathrm{\Delta })^{}0$$

gives an exact sequence

$$0\stackrel{~}{L}(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})\stackrel{~}{L}(E(W))\stackrel{~}{L}((C_\mathrm{\Delta })^{})0.$$

Hence by (4) and (5), $`\stackrel{~}{L}(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})`$ only has possibly non-zero cohomology sheaves $``$ in degree $`c+(dc)n+1`$ which is $`c^{}`$, and $`H^d^{}\stackrel{~}{L}(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})`$ in degree $`d^{}`$. The condition (11) for $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$, when translated to $`\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$, see (13) and the paranthetical remark after, gives that all generators of $`H^d^{}L(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})`$ have degree $`na+1`$. Since they are of characteristic type (see the proof of Theorem 3.9) a free resolution has length $`a1`$.

Hence $``$ has a locally free resolution of length $`d^{}c^{}+a`$ which is equal to $`dc+a`$. By the Auslander-Buchsbaum theorem \[8, Thm. 19.9\], $``$ then has local depth $`(n1)(dc+a)`$. But $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ being in $`𝒞_a`$, this sheaf has local dimension $`(n1)(dc+a)`$. Since local dimension is greater or equal to local depth we must have equalities everywhere and so $``$ is locally Cohen-Macaulay. ∎

## 5. Hierarchies of Cohen-Macaulay simplicial complexes

The Alexander duals of CLeray simplicial complexes are the Cohen-Macaulay simplicial complexes. Therefore by taking Alexander duals of the various hierarchies of CLeray complexes, we get hierarchies of Cohen-Macaulay simplicial complexes. This section will contain the Alexander dual versions of most of the statements in Section 4. But we shall also give a description of what it means for a simplicial complex $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ to be Gorenstein\* in terms of the associated coherent sheaf $`𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})`$. We prove that $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is Gorenstein\* iff $`𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})`$ is an ideal sheaf, i.e. a subsheaf of $`𝒪_{𝐏^{n1}}`$. In fact it turns out to be the associated sheaf of the ideal defining the Stanley-Reisner ring of $`\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$.

### 5.1. $`a+1`$-Cohen-Macaulay simplicial complexes

Let $`𝒞_a`$ be the class of Cohen-Macaulay simplicial complexes which are Alexander duals of the simplicial complexes in the class $`𝒞_a`$. We shall show that this is exactly the class of $`a+1`$-Cohen-Macaulay simplicial complexes as defined by Baclawski .

###### Theorem 5.1.

$`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a`$ iff $`dna`$ and $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)`$ is zero when $`p+r=d+a2`$ and $`pd2`$. In particular, if $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is not the $`na1`$-skeleton of the $`n1`$-simplex, then $`dna1`$.

###### Proof.

By Theorem 4.1 $`\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$ is in $`𝒞_a`$ means that $`dna`$ and

(12)
$$\stackrel{~}{H}_{c^{}a}((\mathrm{\Delta }^{})_S^S)=0\text{for }sa.$$

Now $`(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})_S^S`$ is equal to $`(\mathrm{\Delta }_S)^{}`$ and so by Lemma 1.2, (12) is equivalent to

$$\stackrel{~}{H}_{(ns)+ac^{}3}(\mathrm{\Delta }_S)=0\text{for }sa.$$

Since $`n1c^{}=d`$ we get the statement. ∎

###### Corollary 5.2.

a) $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a`$ iff $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_R^S)`$ is zero when $`p+sd2`$ and $`p+rd+a2`$.

b) If $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a`$, then $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S`$ is also in $`𝒞_a`$.

###### Proof.

This is just the Alexander dual versions of Corollary 4.2, using Lemma 1.2. ∎

###### Corollary 5.3.

Suppose $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ has dimension one, i.e. $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is a graph. Then $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a`$ if and only if $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ contains at least $`a+2`$ vertices and is $`a+1`$-connected.

###### Proof.

$`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a`$ iff $`\stackrel{~}{H}_1(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)`$ is zero for $`r=a+1`$ and $`\stackrel{~}{H}_0(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)`$ is zero for $`r=a`$. This translates precisely to the above. ∎

The following describes the objects of $`𝒞_a`$ with upper extremal values for $`d`$. Recall that a subset $`F`$ of $`[n]`$ is a missing face of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ if $`F`$ is not in $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$. Now if $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a`$ and not the $`na1`$-skeleton of the $`n1`$-simplex then $`dna1`$ or equivalently $`and1`$.

###### Proposition 5.4.

$`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_{nd1}`$ iff the cardinality of $`FG`$ is $`d+2`$ for all distinct missing faces $`F`$ and $`G`$.

###### Proof.

$`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_{nd1}`$ iff $`\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$ is $`c^{}+1`$-CLeray. If $`F`$ and $`G`$ are two distinct missing faces then the complements $`F^c`$ and $`G^c`$ are faces of $`\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$ and so the cardinality of $`F^cG^c`$ is $`c^{}1`$. But then the cardinality of $`FG`$ is $`nc^{}+1`$ and this is $`d+2`$. ∎

The following shows that $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a`$ iff $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is $`a+1`$-Cohen-Macaulay ($`a+1`$-CM) as defined by Baclawski, .

###### Theorem 5.5.

$`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a`$ iff every restriction $`\mathrm{\Delta }_R`$ with $`r=a`$ is Cohen-Macaulay of the same dimension as $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$.

###### Proof.

This is just the Alexander dual version of Theorem 4.6. ∎

From  we have the following means of constructing $`a+1`$-CM simplicial complexes.

###### Theorem 5.6 ().

If $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ and $`\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$ are $`a+1`$-CM simplicial complexes, then the join $`\mathrm{\Delta }\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$ is also $`a+1`$-CM.

In particular, the $`\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$ consisting of $`ma+1`$ vertices is $`a+1`$-CM and so the $`m`$-point suspension of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ will be $`a+1`$-CM.

Remark 5.7. If $`F_{}`$ is a free resolution of the Stanley-Reisner ring of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$, it follows from Theorem 5.1 and Hochsters description of $`\text{Tor}_i^S(k[\mathrm{\Delta }],k)`$, see \[17, II.4.8\], that $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is $`(a+1)`$-CM iff it is Cohen-Macaulay and $`F_i=S(id)^{r_i}`$ for $`ndi>nda`$.

### 5.2. The classes $`𝒞_a^{}`$

Let $`𝒞_a^{}`$ be the class of simplicial complexes which are Alexander duals of the simplicial complexes in $`𝒞_a^{}`$.

###### Theorem 5.8.

$`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a^{}`$ iff $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)`$ is zero for all $`r`$ when $`p`$ is in the range $`cpd2`$ and also when $`p=c1`$ and $`r<d+ac`$.

###### Proof.

This is the Alexander dual version of Theorem 4.7. ∎

###### Corollary 5.9.

a) $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a^{}`$ iff $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_R^S)`$ is zero for $`p,s`$ (and $`r`$) in the range $`cp+sd2`$ and also when $`p+s=c1`$ and $`s+r<d+ac`$.

b) If $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a^{}`$ then $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S`$ is in $`𝒞_a^{}`$.

###### Proof.

This is the Alexander dual version of Corollary 4.8. ∎

###### Theorem 5.10.

$`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a^{}`$ iff each restriction $`\mathrm{\Delta }_R`$ with $`r=a`$ is either in $`𝒞_0^{}`$ with the same dimension and frame dimension as $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ or is the $`d1`$-skeleton of the simplex on $`[n]\backslash R`$.

###### Proof.

This is the Alexander dual version of Theorem 4.9. ∎

### 5.3. The classes $`𝒞_a^{}`$.

We let $`𝒞_a^{}`$ be the class of simplicial complexes which are Alexander duals of the simplicial complexes in $`𝒞_a^{}`$. If $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a^{}`$ so $`\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$ is in $`𝒞_a^{}`$ the condition (11) is equivalent to the condition

(13)
$$\stackrel{~}{H}_{d1}(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)=0\text{when }r=a.$$

(It then follows by Proposition 4.4 that $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{d1}(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)=0`$ for $`ra`$.) Thus $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a^{}`$ iff it is in $`𝒞_a^{}`$ and fulfills (13).

Example 5.11. If $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is a cyclic polytope of odd dimension, then $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_1^{}`$. To see this, note that by Alexander duality for Gorenstein\* simplicial complexes \[17, p.66\]

(14)
$$\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)=\stackrel{~}{H}_{d2p}(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)^{}.$$

Now we can apply Theorem 5.8. For a cylic polytope of odd dimension, $`d=2c`$ and we see that if $`cpd2`$ then $`0d2pc2`$ and so (14) is zero. Also $`p=c1`$ gives $`d2p=c1`$ and $`rd+ac1`$ is the same as $`rc`$. Thus (14) is zero and so $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_1^{}`$. That (13) holds is immediate from (14) and so $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_1^{}`$.

###### Theorem 5.12.

$`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a^{}`$ iff every restriction $`\mathrm{\Delta }_R`$ where $`r=a`$, is bi-Cohen-Macaulay of the same dimension and frame dimension as $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$.

###### Proof.

This is the Alexander dual version of Theorem 4.13. ∎

###### Corollary 5.13.

If $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a^{}`$ and $`ra`$, then $`\mathrm{\Delta }_R`$ is in $`𝒞_{ar}^{}`$.

### 5.4. Gorenstein\* simplicial complexes

We shall now describe where Gorenstein\* complexes fit in our scheme. Recall that $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is Gorenstein\* if $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)`$ is $`k`$ when $`p+s=d1`$ and $`S`$ a face of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$, and zero otherwise. The following theorem is certainly well known (except the last statement). It follows for instance from \[4, 4.7\].

###### Theorem 5.14.

$`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is Gorenstein\* iff $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is $`2`$-CM and $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{d1}(\mathrm{\Delta })=k`$, i.e. iff $`𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})`$ is a torsion free rank one sheaf.

###### Proof.

Suppose $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is Gorenstein\*. By Theorem 5.1 we must show that $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)`$ is zero when $`p+r=d1`$ and $`pd2`$. By the Alexander duality theorem for Gorenstein\* simplicial complexes \[17, p.66\], $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)`$ is equal to $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{d2p}(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)^{}`$. Hence we need to show that $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p^{}(\mathrm{\Delta }_R)`$ is zero when $`r=p^{}+1`$. But this is true simply because the homology of any simplicial complex on $`n`$ elements always vanishes in degrees $`n1`$.

Now suppose $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_1`$ with $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{d1}(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ equal to $`k`$. By Corollary 5.2 a) then $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)`$ is zero for $`p+sd2`$. We must therefore show in addition that $`\stackrel{~}{H}_p(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S)`$ is $`k`$ when $`p+s=d1`$ and $`S`$ a face of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$. Since $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }\{x\}`$ is in $`𝒞_1`$ it is enough by induction to show that $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{d2}(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }\{x\})`$ is $`k`$ when $`\{x\}`$ is a face of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$. But there is a sequence

$$\stackrel{~}{H}_{d1}(\mathrm{\Delta }_{\{x\}})\stackrel{~}{H}_{d1}(\mathrm{\Delta })\stackrel{~}{H}_{d2}(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }\{x\})\stackrel{~}{H}_{d2}(\mathrm{\Delta }_{\{x\}}).$$

Since $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_1`$, $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{d2}(\mathrm{\Delta }_{\{x\}})`$ is zero. Since $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }\{x\}`$ is in $`𝒞_1`$, applying Proposition 4.4 b) we get that $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{d2}(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }\{x\})`$ is non-zero. And so we must have $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{d2}(\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }\{x\})`$ equal to $`k`$. ∎

###### Proposition 5.15.

When $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is Gorenstein\* there is a natural identification of $`S(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})`$ with the ideal defining the Stanley-Reisner ring of the simplicial complex $`\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$. (And so this ideal defines a subscheme of codimension $`c+1`$ in $`𝐏^{n1}`$.)

###### Proof.

The paranthetical remark is because the codimension of the subscheme defined by the ideal of the Stanley-Reisner ring of $`\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$ is $`nd^{}`$ which is $`c+1`$.

First we shall suppose $`c1`$. Then $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{d1}(\mathrm{\Delta }_{\{x\}})`$ by Alexander duality is equal to $`\stackrel{~}{H}_1(\mathrm{\Delta }_{\{x\}})`$ which is zero. Hence $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ fulfills condition (13) and by the last remark in Subsection 5.3, $`H^d\stackrel{~}{L}(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ is equal to $`𝒪_{𝐏^{n1}}(n)`$.

Now by (5) and the sequence

$$0C_\mathrm{\Delta }E(W)(C_\mathrm{\Delta }^{})^{}0$$

we get

$$om(𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta }^{}),\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})=H^d\stackrel{~}{L}(\mathrm{\Delta })=𝒪_{𝐏^{n1}}(n)=\omega _{𝐏^{n1}}.$$

Since $`𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})`$ is torsion free

$$𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})^{}=om(\omega _{𝐏^{n1}},\omega _{𝐏^{n1}})=𝒪_{𝐏^{n1}}.$$

Taking graded global sections

$$S(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})=_{m𝐙}\mathrm{\Gamma }(𝐏^{n1},𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})(m))_{m𝐙}\mathrm{\Gamma }(𝐏^{n1},𝒪_{𝐏^{n1}}(m))=S$$

we get $`S(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})`$ as an ideal in $`S`$.

If $`c=0`$, let $`R`$ consist of the $`x`$ such that $`\{x\}`$ is a face in $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$. Let $`r`$ be the cardinality of $`R`$. In this case $`H^d\stackrel{~}{L}(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ is $`𝒪_{𝐏^{n1}}(r)`$. Hence $`𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})^{}`$ is $`𝒪_{𝐏^{n1}}(rn)`$. By the inclusion

$$𝒪_{𝐏^{n1}}(rn)\stackrel{\mathrm{\Pi }_{iR}x_i}{}𝒪_{𝐏^{n1}}$$

we also get $`𝒮(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})`$ as an ideal sheaf in $`𝒪_{𝐏^{n1}}`$ and taking graded global sections we get $`S(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})`$ as an ideal in $`S`$.

Now we want to identify this ideal as the ideal of the Stanley-Reisner ring associated to $`\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$. By the sequence

$$0C_\mathrm{\Delta }^{}E(W)(C_\mathrm{\Delta })^{}0$$

we get (using (4)) a sequence of complexes

(15)
$$0L(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})L(E(W))\text{Hom}_S(L(\mathrm{\Delta }),S(n))[n]0.$$

Now the latter complex is

(16)
$$S(dn)^{f_{d1}}S(d1n)^{f_{d2}}\mathrm{}S(n)$$

where the cohomological degree of the first term is $`dn`$. Taking the long exact cohomology sequence of (15) we get that the only cohomology of (16) is in cohomological degree $`dn`$ and is

$$H^{dn+1}L(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})=H^c^{}L(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})=S(\mathrm{\Delta }^{}).$$

Hence (16) is a resolution of the ideal $`S(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})`$ in $`S`$. Since it is a multigraded resolution the generators of $`S(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})`$ in $`S`$ will have multidegrees the multidegrees of the indices $`J`$ when writing

$$S(dn)^{f_{d1}}=_JS(dn)u_J.$$

But by the BGG-correspondence we recognise the $`J`$’s as the multidegrees of the facets of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$. But this means exactly that $`S(\mathrm{\Delta }^{})`$ is the ideal of the Stanley-Reisner ring of $`\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$. ∎

Remark 5.16. By the result of  the Stanley-Reisner ideal $`I_\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$ in $`S`$ of a simplicial complex $`\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$ has a linear resolution iff $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is Cohen-Macaulay. The same is valid for the the analog $`J_\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$ of the Stanley-Reisner ideal in the exterior algebra $`E`$. But this is the same as saying that the ideal $`J_\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$ is a Koszul module over $`E`$ (see ). The algebras $`E`$ and $`S`$ are Koszul duals. Via the functors relating (complexes of) modules over them, $`J_\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$ then transfers to a Koszul module over $`S`$. The above Proposition 5.15 then shows that this transformed module is an ideal in $`S`$ exactly when $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is Gorenstein\*.

Summing up, $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is Cohen-Macaulay iff $`J_\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$ in $`E`$ is a Koszul ideal (which transfers to a Koszul module), and $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is Gorenstein\* iff $`J_\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$ in $`E`$ is a Koszul ideal transforming to a Koszul ideal in $`S`$.

Remark 5.17. If $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒞_a`$ then the link $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S`$ is also in $`𝒞_a`$. Hence if $`S`$ is of dimension $`d2`$, then $`\text{lk}_\mathrm{\Delta }S`$ consists of a set of vertices of, being in $`𝒞_a`$, cardinality $`a+1`$.

The subclass $`𝒢_a`$ of $`𝒞_a`$ such that this cardinality is always the minimum possible, namely $`a+1`$, might be a reasonable generalization of Gorenstein\* complexes, since $`𝒢_1`$ would be exactly this class. If $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ and $`\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$ are in $`𝒢_a`$ then the join $`\mathrm{\Delta }\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$ is also in $`𝒢_a`$, in particular the $`a+1`$-point suspension of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is in $`𝒢_a`$.

In contrast to the case for Gorenstein\* simplicial complexes there does however not seem to be any formula for $`\stackrel{~}{H}_{d1}(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ for $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ in $`𝒢_a`$ for instance in terms of $`n`$ and $`d`$.

## 6. Problems

We pose the following two problems.

###### Problem 1.

What are the possible $`f`$-vectors (or $`h`$-vectors) of the simplicial complexes in the classes $`𝒞_a`$ and $`𝒞_a`$.

This is likely to be a very difficult problem since any answer also would include an answer to what the $`h`$-vectors of Gorenstein\* simplicial complexes are. However, any conjecture about this would be highly interesting since it would contain as a subconjecture what the $`h`$-vectors of Gorenstein\* simplicial complexes are.

###### Problem 2.

Construct simplicial complexes in the classes $`𝒞_a^{}`$ and $`𝒞_a^{}`$ for various parameters of $`n,d,c`$, and $`a`$.

As has been pointed out this has been done in a number of particular cases. When $`a=0`$ we have the bi-Cohen-Maculay simplicial complexes constructed in . When $`a=1`$ and $`d=2c`$ we have the cyclic polytopes in $`𝒞_1^{}`$, and when $`a=c`$, many Steiner systems $`S(c,d,n)`$ have been constructed, which give simplicial complexes in $`𝒞_a^{}`$.