Dimensions of permanental varieties in arbitrary size

Let $I_h(a,b)$ be the ideal generated by the $h\times h$ permanents of a generic $a\times b$ matrix over a field of characteristic different from two. We prove that $\dim K[X]\mathrm{/}{I}_h(a,b)=\max (a,b)(h-1)$ whenever $1\le h\le \min (a,b)$ and $h<\max (a,b)$. Consequently, the critical locus of the permanent of order $n$ has codimension $2n$ for every $n\ge 2$. We also prove that the maximal permanents of a generic $k\times (k+1)$ matrix generate a geometrically reduced complete intersection. The dimension argument uses a pivot expansion and cubic relations in the border variables. Two successive comparisons with highest-degree equations reduce the relevant fibers to a coordinate-support calculation. Reducedness follows from a separate regular-sequence argument and a dimension estimate excluding components over the exceptional locus.