Multiplicity of a filtered module 2026-10-14
With the fixed algebra-filtration convention in dimension of a filtered module, the multiplicity is factorial times the common leading coefficient of the cumulative Hilbert function for , and is zero for . It is a positive integer with a standard graded algebra normalization, and can be a positive rational number for a weighted grading. Fixed shifts between good filtrations of a module preserve its leading Hilbert coefficient. Rescaling the algebra filtration itself can change multiplicity, so its normalization must be specified.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2001 iii Paper 2 3 ii Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Choose a basis of the Lie algebra and filter its universal enveloping algebra by word length: and is spanned by products of at most basis elements. The relations replace a degree-two commutator by degree one, so the degree-one symbols commute.
The Poincaré-Birkhoff-Witt theorem says the ordered monomials are a basis. Its relevant proof can be seen by reordering an inverted neighboring pair using the displayed relation. Reordering terminates because same-length terms have fewer inversions and bracket terms have smaller word length. Disjoint swaps commute; the only overlapping three-letter reorderings differ by . The Jacobi identity therefore makes the reduced ordered expression independent of the reordering path. Ordered monomials have no remaining relations and form the basis. Their degree- symbols giveFor generators of the finitely generated module , put . This is a good filtration, and is finite over the three-variable polynomial ring. Define the dimension of a filtered module as the Krull dimension of its associated graded module, equivalently the degree of the eventual cumulative polynomial , or the Gelfand–Kirillov dimension of a module. Two good filtrations have bounded shifts, so the growth degree is independent of the generators. Sinceits polynomial degree is at most three. Therefore every nonzero finitely generated -module has dimension at most . The zero module may be assigned the usual separate empty-support convention. This bound also follows immediately from its support of a module inside affine three-space.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 iii Paper 2 6 Solution 2026-10-14
Fix a finite-dimensional nonnegative filtration of a ring giving its almost commutative algebra structure, and choose a good filtration of a module on . When is a standard graded algebra, the Hilbert-Serre theorem makes the cumulative Hilbert function eventually a polynomial. For , define the dimension of a filtered module and multiplicity of a filtered module byUse and . With positive weighted generators instead of a standard grading, the cumulative Hilbert function is eventually a quasipolynomial with a common positive leading coefficient across residue classes. Equivalently, , and the definitions are and . The common leading coefficient follows from monotonicity: interlacing consecutive residue classes forces their leading coefficients to agree. For a standard grading, multiplicity is a positive integer, since an integer-valued polynomial has an integral expansion in the binomial polynomials; weighted normalization can instead give a positive rational number.
Two good filtrations of a module for this fixed algebra filtration bound each other after fixed index shifts. The corresponding Hilbert functions therefore satisfy for fixed . Comparing their leading growth shows that the degree and leading coefficient agree. Thus and are independent of the module filtration; the fixed algebra filtration is part of the multiplicity convention.
For a submodule , use its subspace filtration and the quotient filtration on . These are good because is Noetherian. The short exact sequence of filtered pieces givesNonzero leading coefficients are positive, soIf , those leading coefficients add andThis is dimension and multiplicity in a filtered exact sequence.
For the Weyl algebra in characteristic zero, Bernstein inequality for Weyl algebra modules asserts for every nonzero finitely generated module . Write its generators as , with and all other generator commutators zero. The ordered monomials give the Bernstein filtrationTake a finite-dimensional generating subspace of and put .
To prove faithful finite-step action of a Weyl algebra, consider and choose a nonzero coefficient of a monomial of maximal total degree . Applying to givesIndeed, these commutators differentiate the ordered coefficients: lower-degree monomials vanish, and another degree- monomial can survive only if all its exponents dominate , which forces equality. This is scalar extraction by iterated Weyl commutators.
Expanding these iterated commutators writes with . If annihilated , every summand would annihilate , contrary to . Therefore the action map is injective:Taking dimensions and comparing polynomial degrees giveswhich proves Bernstein inequality for Weyl algebra modules. The polynomial representation has dimension , so the bound is sharp.
The associated graded ring of the Weyl algebra is a polynomial ring, so ascending filtered-graded transfer of Noetherianity makes a left Noetherian ring. Thus every submodule of a finitely generated module is finitely generated. If , every nonzero subquotient has dimension at most by the exact-sequence formula, and at least by Bernstein inequality for Weyl algebra modules. Every such subquotient therefore has dimension and positive integral multiplicity.
In a strictly descending chain , each nonzero quotient consumes at least one unit of multiplicity, by dimension and multiplicity in a filtered exact sequence. Hence there are at most strict steps. This proves the descending chain condition, so is Artinian. In fact this holonomic Weyl algebra module has module length at most , as in multiplicity bounds the length of a holonomic Weyl module.