Graph connectivity and binomial edge ideals

Abstract

We relate homological properties of a binomial edge ideal $\mathcal{J}_G$ to invariants that measure the connectivity of a simple graph $G$. Specifically, we show if $R/\mathcal{J}_G$ is a Cohen-Macaulay ring, then graph toughness of $G$ is exactly $\frac{1}{2}$. We also give an inequality between the depth of $R/\mathcal{J}_G$ and the vertex-connectivity of $G$. In addition, we study the Hilbert-Samuel multiplicity, and the Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity of $R/\mathcal{J}_G$.