Patchworking singular algebraic curves II

In this paper we present various particular versions of the general patch-working procedurefor the construction of reduced algebraic curves with prescribed singularities, on algebraic surfaces. Among the main examples are a deformation of reducible algebraic curves on reducible algebraic surfaces in the presence of non-transverse intersections of a curve with the singular locus of a surface, and a deformation of curves with multiple components. As an application we deduce, a significant asymptotical improvement for the sufficient existence criterion of algebraic curves with arbitrary prescribed singlarities in given linear systems on smooth projective algebraic surfaces. Both authors were partially supported by the Herman Minkowsky-Minerva Center for Geometry at Tel Aviv University, and by grant no. G-616-15.6/99 from the German-Israeli Foundation for Research and Development. The first author was also supported by the Bessel Research Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.     

Enumeration of singular algebraic curves

We enumerate plane complex algebraic curves of a given degree with one singularity of any given topological type. Our approach is to compute the homology classes of the corresponding equisingular strata in the parameter spaces of plane curves. We suggest an inductive procedure, which is based on the intersection theory combined with liftings and degenerations. The procedure computes the homology class in question whenever a given singularity type is defined. Our method does not require knowledge of all the possible deformations of a given singularity, as it was in previously known procedures.     

Sweeping algebraic curves for singular solutions

Many problems give rise to polynomial systems. These systems often have several parameters and we are interested to study how the solutions vary when we change the values for the parameters. Using predictor-corrector methods we track the solution paths. A point along a solution path is critical when the Jacobian matrix is rank deficient. The simplest case of quadratic turning points is well understood, but these methods no longer work for general types of singularities. In order not to miss any singular solutions along a path we propose to monitor the determinant of the Jacobian matrix. We examine the operation range of deflation and relate the effectiveness of deflation to the winding number. Computational experiments on systems coming from different application fields are presented.     

Moduli for principal bundles over algebraic curves: I

We classify principal bundles on a compact Riemann surface. A moduli space for semistable principal bundles with a reductive structure group is constructed using Mumford's geometric invarian theory.     

Real plane algebraic curves

We study real algebraic plane curves, at an elementary level, using as little algebra as possible. Both cases, affine and projective, are addressed. A real curve is infinite, finite or empty according to the fact that a minimal polynomial for the curve is indefinite, semi-definite nondefinite or definite. We present a discussion about isolated points. By means of the P operator, these points can be easily identified for curves defined by minimal polynomials of order bigger than one. We also discuss the conditions that a curve must satisfy in order to have a minimal polynomial. Finally, we list the most relevant topological properties of affine and projective, complex and real plane algebraic curves.     

On lifting singular curves

The aim of this note is to lift singular curves of a certain type to characteristic zero. The liftings are obtained as suitable pushouts and the corresponding relative jacobians are identified as rigidifed Picard functors.     

Theta-characteristics on singular curves

On a smooth curve a theta-characteristic is a line bundle L,the square of which is the canonical line bundle . The equivalentcondition om(L, ) L generalizes well to singular curves, asapplications show. More precisely, a theta-characteristic isa torsion-free sheaf of rank 1 with om(, ) . If the curvehas non-ADE singularities, then there are infinitely many theta-characteristics.Therefore, theta-characteristics are distinguished by theirlocal type. The main purpose of this article is to compute thenumber of even and odd theta-characteristics (that is withh⁰(C, ) 0 and h⁰(C, ) 1 modulo 2, respectively) in terms ofthe geometric genus of the curve and certain discrete invariantsof a fixed local type.     

Homotopically invisible singular curves

Given a smooth manifold M and a totally nonholonomic distribution \(\Delta \subset TM \) of rank \(d\ge 3\), we study the effect of singular curves on the topology of the space of horizontal paths joining two points on M. Singular curves are critical points of the endpoint map \(F\,{:}\,\gamma \mapsto \gamma (1)\) defined on the space \(\Omega \) of horizontal paths starting at a fixed point x. We consider a sub-Riemannian energy \(J\,{:}\,\Omega (y)\rightarrow \mathbb R\), where \(\Omega (y)=F^{-1}(y)\) is the space of horizontal paths connecting x with y, and study those singular paths that do not influence the homotopy type of the Lebesgue sets \(\{\gamma \in \Omega (y)\,|\,J(\gamma )\le E\}\). We call them homotopically invisible. It turns out that for \(d\ge 3\) generic sub-Riemannian structures in the sense of Chitour et al. (J Differ Geom 73(1):45–73, 2006) have only homotopically invisible singular curves. Our results can be seen as a first step for developing the calculus of variations on the singular space of horizontal curves (in this direction we prove a sub-Riemannian minimax principle and discuss some applications).     

Nonstandard points on algebraic curves

Let Γ be an algebraic curve which is given by an equation f(x, y) = 0, f(x, y) ∈ k[x, y] where k is an algebraic number field and f(x, y) is irreducible. Suppose that there exists an ${}^1\text{Γ}$ a nonstandard point $\text{(ξ, η) ∈}{}^1\text{k ×}{}^1\text{k}$. Then k(ξ, η) is (isomorphic to) the algebraic function field of Γ and, at the same time, is a subfield of ${}^1\text{k}$. Correlating the divisors of the function field k(ξ, η) and of the number field ${}^1\text{k}$, we develop an analogue of the Artin-Whaples theory of the product formula. This leads to one of Siegel's basic inequalities for rational points on algebraic curves.     

Topology of real algebraic curves

The problem on the existence of an additional first integral of the equations of geodesics on noncompact algebraic surfaces is considered. This problem was discussed as early as by Riemann and Darboux. We indicate coarse obstructions to integrability, which are related to the topology of the real algebraic curve obtained as the line of intersection of such a surface with a sphere of large radius. Some yet unsolved problems are discussed.     

Cubic algebraic spline curves design

In this paper we propose a construction method of the planar cubic algebraic spline curve with endpoint interpolation conditions and a specific analysis of its properties. The piecewise cubic algebraic curve has G ² continuous contact with the control polygon at two endpoints and is G ² continuous between each segments of itself. The process of this method is simple and clear, and provides a new way of thinking to design implicit curves.     

Co-fibered products of algebraic curves

We give examples of failure of the existence of co-fibered products in the category of algebraic curves.      

On pseudopoints of algebraic curves

Clifford indices for semistable vector bundles on a smooth projective curve of genus at least four were defined in a previous paper of the authors. The present paper studies bundles which compute these Clifford indices. We show that under certain conditions on the curve all such bundles and their Serre duals are generated.     

Adjoint divisors on algebraic curves

Let C be a numerically connected curve lying on a smooth algebraic surface. We show that if is an ample invertible sheaf satisfying some technical numerical hypotheses then is normally generated. As a corollary we show that the sheaf ω_C^⊗2 on a numerically connected curve C of arithmetic genus p_a?3 is normally generated if ω_C is ample and does not exist a subcurve B⊂C such that p_a(B)=1=B(C−B).     

Singularities of plane algebraic curves

We give an exposition of some of the basic results on singularities of plane algebraic curves, in terms of polynomials and formal power series.