Short Generating Functions for some Semigroup Algebras

Abstract

Let $a_1,\ldots,a_n$ be distinct, positive integers with $(a_1,\ldots,a_n)=1$, and let k be an arbitrary field. Let $H(a_1,\ldots,a_n;z)$ denote the Hilbert series of the graded algebra k$[t^{a_1},t^{a_2},\ldots,t^{a_n}]$. We show that, when $n=3$, this rational function has a simple expression in terms of $a_1,a_2,a_3$; in particular, the numerator has at most six terms. By way of contrast, it is known that no such expression exists for any $n\geq4$.