Prime and Cohen--Macaulay binomial ideals with linear resolution

Abstract

Let $I$ be an ideal of a polynomial ring $S$ over a field $K$ for which $I$ is minimally generated by at least two quadratic binomials. Suppose that (i) $I$ is prime, (ii) $S/I$ is Cohen--Macaulay and (iii) $I$ has linear resolution. The question whether $I$ is equal to the ideal of $2$-minors of a $(2\times n)$-matrix of variables is mainly studied.