On the multiplicity of tangent cones of monomial curves

Abstract

Let S be a numerical semigroup, R the local ring of the monomial curve singularity associated to S, and G its associated graded ring. In this paper we provide a sharp upper bound for the least positive integer in S in terms of the codimension and the maximum degree of the equations of G, when G is not a complete intersection. A special case of this result settles a question of J. Herzog and D. Stamate.