The toric ring of one dimensional simplicial complexes

Abstract

Let $\Delta$ be a 1-dimensional simplicial complex. Then $\Delta$ may be identified with a finite simple graph $G$. In this article, we investigate the toric ring $R_G$ of $G$. All graphs $G$ such that $R_G$ is a normal domain are classified. For such a graph, we determine the set ${\mathcal{P}}_G$ of height one monomial prime ideals of $R_G$. In the bipartite case, and in the case of whiskered cycles, this set is explicitly described. As a consequence, we determine the canonical class $[{\omega }_{R_G}]$ and characterize the Gorenstein property of $R_G$. For a bipartite graph $G$, we show that $R_G$ is Gorenstein if and only if $G$ is unmixed. For a subclass of non-bipartite graphs $G$, which includes whiskered cycles, $R_G$ is Gorenstein if and only if $G$ is unmixed and has an odd number of vertices. Finally, it is proved that $R_G$ is a pseudo-Gorenstein ring if $G$ is an odd cycle.