Gregory G. Smith’s research while affiliated with Queen's University and other places

We study the linear map sending the numerator of the rational function representing the Hilbert series of a module to that of its r-th Veronese submodule. We show that the asymptotic behaviour as r tends to infinity depends on the multidegree of the module and the underlying positively multigraded polynomial ring. More importantly, we give a polyhedral description for the asymptotic polynomial and prove that the coefficients are log-concave. In particular, we extend some results by Beck-Stapledon and Diaconis-Fulman beyond the standard graded situation.

The multigraded Hilbert scheme parametrizes all homogeneous ideals in a polynomial ring graded by an abelian group with a fixed Hilbert function. We prove that any multigraded Hilbert scheme is smooth and irreducible when the polynomial ring is Z[x,y], which establishes a conjecture of Haiman and Sturmfels.

We prove that every projective embedding of a connected scheme determined by the complete linear series of a sufficiently ample line bundle is defined by the 2-minors of a 1-generic matrix of linear forms. Extending the work of Eisenbud-Koh-Stillman for integral curves, we also provide effective descriptions for such determinantally presented ample line bundles on products of projective spaces, Gorenstein toric varieties, and smooth n-folds.

Duistermaat and van der Kallen show that there is no nontrivial complex Laurent polynomial all of whose powers have a zero constant term. Inspired by this, Sturmfels posed two questions: Do the constant terms of a generic Laurent polynomial form a regular sequence? If so, then what is the degree of the associated zero-dimensional ideal? In this note, we prove that the Eulerian numbers provide the answer to the second question. The proof involves reinterpreting the problem in terms of toric geometry.

The multigraded Hilbert scheme parametrizes all homogeneous ideals in a polynomial ring graded by an abelian group with a fixed Hilbert function. We prove that any multigraded Hilbert scheme is smooth and irreducible when the polynomial ring is ZZ[x,y], which establishes a conjecture of Haiman and Sturmfels.

This paper proves that every projective toric variety is the fine moduli space for stable representations of an appropriate bound quiver. To accomplish this, we study the quiver Q with relations R corresponding to the finite-dimensional algebra $\bigl(\bigoplus_{i=0}^{r} L_i \bigr)$ where $\mathcal{L} := (\mathscr{O}_X,L_1, ...c, L_r)$ is a list of line bundles on a projective toric variety X. The quiver Q defines a smooth projective toric variety, called the multilinear series $|\mathcal{L}|$, and a map $X \to |\mathcal{L}|$. We provide necessary and sufficient conditions for the induced map to be a closed embedding. As a consequence, we obtain a new geometric quotient construction of projective toric varieties. Under slightly stronger hypotheses on $\mathcal{L}$, the closed embedding identifies X with the fine moduli space of stable representations for the bound quiver (Q,R). Comment: revised version: improved exposition, corrected typos and other minor changes

This paper proves that every projective toric variety is the fine moduli space for stable representations of an appropriate bound quiver. To accomplish this, we study the quiver Q with relations R corresponding to the finite-dimensional algebra $\bigl(\bigoplus_{i=0}^{r} L_i \bigr)$ where $\mathcal{L} := (\mathscr{O}_X,L_1, ...c, L_r)$ is a list of line bundles on a projective toric variety X. The quiver Q defines a smooth projective toric variety, called the multilinear series $|\mathcal{L}|$, and a map $X \to |\mathcal{L}|$. We provide necessary and sufficient conditions for the induced map to be a closed embedding. As a consequence, we obtain a new geometric quotient construction of projective toric varieties. Under slightly stronger hypotheses on $\mathcal{L}$, the closed embedding identifies X with the fine moduli space of stable representations for the bound quiver (Q,R).

Using multigraded Castelnuovo-Mumford regularity, we study the equations defining a projective embedding of a variety X. Given globally generated line bundles B_1, ..., B_k on X and integers m_1, ..., m_k, consider the line bundle L := B_1^m_1 \otimes ... \otimes B_k^m_k. We give conditions on the m_i which guarantee that the ideal of X in P(H^0(X,L)) is generated by quadrics and the first p syzygies are linear. This yields new results on the syzygies of toric varieties and the normality of polytopes. Comment: improved exposition and corrected typos

This paper has been subsumed by math.AG/0502240

Generalizing toric varieties, we introduce toric Deligne-Mumford stacks which correspond to combinatorial data. The main result in this paper is an explicit calculation of the orbifold Chow ring of a toric Deligne-Mumford stack. As an application, we prove that the orbifold Chow ring of the toric Deligne-Mumford stack associated to a simplicial toric variety is a flat deformation of (but is not necessarily isomorphic to) the Chow ring of a crepant resolution. Comment: 23 pages; revision improves the exposition in several places