Dominant Families of Pointed Curves in Projective Spaces

Fix non-negative integers r, e, m, g, s such that r ≥ 3, 0 ≤ m < r, e > 0, g + s ≤ er + max{0, m − 1} + 2, g ≤ (e − 1)r + max{0,m − 1} and 0 ≤ s ≤ er + 2. Set d := er + m. Fix any such that and S is in linearly general position. Fix an ordering of the points P ₁, . . . , P _s of S. Here we prove the existence of an irreducible family Γ of smooth, non-degenerate and connected curves with degree d and genus g, all of them containing S and such that the induced map is dominant. Received: September 19, 2006.     

Naturality of Abel maps

We give a combinatorial characterization of nodal curves admitting a natural (i.e. compatible with and independent of specialization) dth Abel map for any d ≥ 1.     

Stratification of the Hilbert scheme of space curves with a stable normal bundle

Ford≥3g and 1≤s≤[g/2], we study the strataN _{d, g(s)} of degreed genusg spaces curvesC whose normal bundleN _C is stable with stability degree (integer of Lange-Narasimhan) σ(N _C)=2s. We prove thatN _{d, g(s)} has an irreducible component of the right dimension whose general curve has a normal bundle with the right number of maximal subbundles. We consider also the semi-stable case (s=0), obtaining similar results. We prove our results by studying the normal bundles of reducible curves and their deformations. Both authors were partially supported by MIUR and GNSAGA of INdAM (Italy).     

A remark on very ample linear series

We give a criterium on the existence of (e - 1)-very ample linear series on a general k-gonal curve of genus $g (e \geq 1)$, and we add some general remarks on such series.     

Curves in the double plane

We study in detail locally Cohen-Macaulay curves in P⁴ which are contained in a double plane 2H, thus completing the classification of curves lying on surfaces of degree two. We describe the irreducible components of the Hilbert schemes H _d,g(2H) of lo-cally Cohen-Macaulay curves in 2H of degree d and arithmetic genus g, and we show that H _d,g(2H) is connected. We also discuss the Rao module of these curves and liaison and biliaison equiva-lence classes.     

Irreducibility of Hurwitz spaces of coverings with one special fiber and monodromy group a Weyl group of type <Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis></Subscript>

Let Y be a smooth, connected, projective complex curve. In this paper, we study the Hurwitz spaces which parameterize branched coverings of Y whose monodromy group is a Weyl group of type D _d and whose local monodromies are all reflections except one. We prove the irreducibility of these spaces when and successively we extend the result to curves of genus g ≥ 1.     

Local invariants attached to Weierstrass points

Let X/S be a hyperelliptic curve of genus g over the spectrum of a discrete valuation ring. Two fundamental numerical invariants are attached to X/S: the valuation d of the hyperelliptic discriminant of X/S, and the valuation δ of the Mumford discriminant of X/S (equivalently, the Artin conductor). For a residue field of characteristic 0 as well as for X/S semistable the invariants d and δ are known to satisfy certain inequalities. We prove an exact formula relating d and δ with intersection theoretic data determined by the distribution of Weierstrass points over the special fiber, in the semistable case. We also prove an exact formula for the stable Faltings height of an arbitrary curve over a number field, involving local contributions associated to its Weierstrass points.     

Linear series computing the Clifford index of a projective curve

For a (smooth irreducible) curveC of genus g and Clifford indexc>2 with a linear seriesg _d ^r computing c (so ) it is well known thatc + 2 ≤d ≤2 (c + 2), and if then 2c + 1 ≤g ≤ 2c + 4 unlessd = 2c + 4 in which caseg = 2c + 5. Let c ≥ 0 andg be integers. If 2c + 1 ≤g ≤2c + 4 we prove that for any integerd <g such thatd ≡c mod 2 andc + 2 ≤d < 2(c + 2) there exists a curve of genus g and Clifford index c with a g_d ^r computing c. Ford ≥c + 6 (i.e.r ≥ 3) we construct this curve on a surface of degree 2r-2 in ℙ^r, and ford ≥c + 8 (i.e.r ≥ 4) we show that such a curve cannot be found on a surface in ℙ^r of smaller degree. In fact, if g_d ^r computes the Clifford index c of C such thatc + 8 ≤d ≤ 2c + 3 then the birational morphism defined by this series cannot map C onto a (maybe, singular) curve contained in a surface of degree at most 2r-3 in ℙ^r.     

Space curves with the expected postulation

The postulation of a space curve is a classifying invariant which computes for any integer n the dimension of the family of surfaces of degree n containing the curve. We prove that for any integers d and g satisfying d−3?g?2d−9, there exists a smooth connected curve of degree d and genus g with the minimal postulation expected by the Riemann-Roch theorem.     

Isolated rational curves on K3-fibered Calabi–Yau threefolds

In this paper we study 16 complete intersection K3-fibered Calabi--Yau variety types in biprojective space ℙ ^{n 1}}×ℙ¹. These are all the CICY-types that are K3 fibered by the projection on the second factor. We prove existence of isolated rational curves of bidegree (d,0) for every positive integer d on a general Calabi–Yau variety of these types. The proof depends heavily on existence theorems for curves on K3-surfaces proved by S. Mori and K. Oguiso. Some of these varieties are related to Calabi–Yau varieties in projective space by a determinantal contraction, and we use this to prove existence of rational curves of every degree for a general Calabi–Yau variety in projective space. Received: 14 October 1997 / Revised version: 18 January 1998     

A bound on the Castelnuovo-Mumford regularity for curves

Recall that a projective curve in with ideal sheaf is said to be n-regular if for every integer and that in this case, it is cut out scheme-theoretically by equations of degree at most n. The purpose here is to show that an irreducible, reduced, projective curve of degree d and large arithmetic genus satisfies a smaller regularity bound than the optimal one . For example, if then a curve is -regular unless it is embedded by a complete linear system of degree . Received: 29 May 2000 / Published online: 24 September 2001     

Castelnuovo-Mumford regularity for nonhyperelliptic curves

The purpose here is to show that an irreducible, reduced, projective, nonhyperelliptic curve of degree d and genus g is n-regular for if Received: 10 July 2003     

On equations defining Veronese rings

For a standard graded noetherian algebra S that is of weakly linear type, the defining equations of the Veronesian subrings S^(d) are described explicitly, for d sufficiently large. Received: 19 January 2005     

On projectively normal embeddings of generalk-gonal curves

Fix integersg, k andt witht>0,k≥3 andtk<g/2−1. LetX be a generalk-gonal curve of genusg andR∈Pic ^k (X) the uniqueg _k ¹ onX. SetL:=K _X⊗(R ^*)^⊗t.L is very ample. Leth _L:X→P(H ⁰(X, L)^*) be the associated embedding. Here we prove thath _L(X) is projectively normal. Ifk≥4 andtk<g/2−2 the curveh _L(X) is scheme-theoretically cut out by quadrics. The author was partially supported by MURST and GNSAGA of CNR (Italy).     

Normally generated line bundles on general curves

Let L be a very ample line bundle of degree d on a general curve X of genus g≥2. Here we prove that if then L is globally generated, i.e. L embeds X as a projectively normal curve in PH⁰(L).     

Level‐ limit linear series

We consider all one‐parameter families of smooth curves degenerating to a singular curve X and describe limits of linear series along such families. We treat here only the simplest case where X is the union of two smooth components meeting transversely at a point P. We introduce the notion of level‐δ limit linear series on X to describe these limits, where δ is the singularity degree of the total space of the degeneration at P. If the total space is regular, that is, , we recover the limit linear series introduced by Osserman in 11 . So we extend his treatment to a more general setup. In particular, we construct a projective moduli space parameterizing level‐δ limit linear series of rank r and degree d on X, and show that it is a new compactification, for each δ, of the moduli space of Osserman exact limit linear series. Finally, we generalize 7 by associating with each exact level‐δ limit linear series on X a closed subscheme of the dth symmetric product of X, and showing that, if is a limit of linear series on the smooth curves degenerating to X, then is the limit of the corresponding spaces of divisors. In short, we describe completely limits of divisors along degenerations to such a curve X.     

Curves having one place at infinity and linear systems on rational surfaces

Denoting by L_d(m₀,m₁,…,m_r) the linear system of plane curves of degree d passing through r+1 generic points p₀,p₁,…,p_r of the projective plane with multiplicity m_i (or larger) at each p_i, we prove the Harbourne-Hirschowitz Conjecture for linear systems L_d(m₀,m₁,…,m_r) determined by a wide family of systems of multiplicities and arbitrary degree d. Moreover, we provide an algorithm for computing a bound for the regularity of an arbitrary system , and we give its exact value when is in the above family. To do that, we prove an H¹-vanishing theorem for line bundles on surfaces associated with some pencils “at infinity”.     

On a Distance-Regular Graph of Even Height with ke = kf

 Let Γ be a distance-regular graph of diameter d. The height of Γ is defined by h = max{j∣p ^d _d,j ≠ 0}. Let e, f be positive integers such that e < f and e + f≤d, and let d = 2e + s for some positive integer s. We show that if k _e = k _f , h≤ 2s and the height h is even, then Γ is an antipodal 2-cover. Received: October 23, 1997 Final version received: July 31, 2000     

Deformations of the generalised Picard bundle

Let X be a nonsingular algebraic curve of genus g?3, and let M_ξ denote the moduli space of stable vector bundles of rank n?2 and degree d with fixed determinant ξ over X such that n and d are coprime. We assume that if g=3 then n?4 and if g=4 then n?3, and suppose further that n₀, d₀ are integers such that n₀?1 and nd₀+n₀d>nn₀(2g-2). Let E be a semistable vector bundle over X of rank n₀ and degree d₀. The generalised Picard bundle W_ξ(E) is by definition the vector bundle over M_ξ defined by the direct image where U_ξ is a universal vector bundle over X×M_ξ. We obtain an inversion formula allowing us to recover E from W_ξ(E) and show that the space of infinitesimal deformations of W_ξ(E) is isomorphic to H¹(X,End(E)). This construction gives a locally complete family of vector bundles over M_ξ parametrised by the moduli space M(n₀,d₀) of stable bundles of rank n₀ and degree d₀ over X. If (n₀,d₀)=1 and W_ξ(E) is stable for all E∈M(n₀,d₀), the construction determines an isomorphism from M(n₀,d₀) to a connected component M⁰ of a moduli space of stable sheaves over M_ξ. This applies in particular when n₀=1, in which case M⁰ is isomorphic to the Jacobian J of X as a polarised variety. The paper as a whole is a generalisation of results of Kempf and Mukai on Picard bundles over J, and is also related to a paper of Tyurin on the geometry of moduli of vector bundles.