Rees algebras of square-free monomial ideals

Abstract: We study the defining equations of the Rees algebra of square-free monomial ideals in a polynomial ring over a field. We determine that when an ideal $I$ is generated by $n$ square-free monomials of the same degree then $I$ has relation type at most $n-2$ as long as $n \leq 5$. In general, we establish the defining equations of the Rees algebra in this case. Furthermore, we give a class of examples with relation type at least $n-2$, where $n=\mu(I)$. We also provide new classes of ideals of linear type. We propose the construction of a graph, namely the generator graph of an ideal, where the monomial generators serve as vertices for the graph. We show that when $I$ is a square-free monomial ideal generated in the same degree that is at least 2 and the generator graph of $I$ is the graph of a disjoint union of trees and graphs with unique odd cycles then $I$ is an ideal of linear type.