We call a simplicial complex algebraically rigid if its Stanley-Reisner ring admits no nontrivial infinitesimal deformations, and call it inseparable if does not allow any deformation to other simplicial complexes. Algebraically rigid simplicial complexes are inseparable. In this paper we study inseparability and rigidity of Stanley-Reisner rings, and apply the general theory to letterplace ideals as well as to edge ideals of graphs. Classes of algebraically rigid simplicial complexes and graphs are identified.
The index of a graded ideal measures the number of linear steps in the graded minimal free resolution of the ideal. In this paper we study the index of powers and squarefree powers of edge ideals. Our results indicate that the index as a function of the power of an edge ideal $I$ is strictly increasing if $I$ has linear relations. Examples show that this need not to be the case for monomial ideals generated in degree greater than two.
