Generic Generalized Diagonal Matrices

Abstract: Generalized diagonal matrices are matrices that have two ladders of entries that are zero in the upper right and bottom left corners. The minors of generic generalized diagonal matrices have square-free initial ideals. We give a description of the facets of their Stanley-Reisner complex. With this description, we characterize the configuration of ladders that yield Cohen-Macaulay ideals. In the special case where both ladders are triangles, we show that the corresponding complex is vertex decomposable. Also in this case, we compute the height and multiplicity of the ideals.