On the Lüroth semigroup of curves lying on a smooth quadric

For a smooth irreducible complete algebraic curveC the “gaps” are the integersn such that every linear series of degreen has at least a base point. The Lüroth semigroup S_C of a curveC is the subsemigroup ofN whose elements are not gaps. In this paper we deal with irreducible smooth curves of type (a, b) on a smooth quadricQ. The main result is an algorithm by which we can say if some integer λ∈N is a gap or is in S_C. In the general case there are integers λ which are undecidable. For curves such as complete intersection, arithmetically Cohen-Macaulay or Buchsbaum, we are able to describe explicitly “intervals” of gaps and “intervals” of integers which belong to S_C. For particular cases we can completely determine S_C, by giving just the type of the curve (in particular the degree and the genus). Work done with financial support of M.U.R.S.T. while the authors were members of G.N.S.A.G.A. of C.N.R.     

On double coverings of hyperelliptic curves

We prove various properties of varieties of special linear systems on double coverings of hyperelliptic curves. We show and determine the irreducibility, generically reducedness and singular loci of the variety for bi-elliptic curves and double coverings of genus two curves. Similar results for double coverings of hyperelliptic curves of genus h≥3 are also presented.     

On a Relative Fourier–Mukai Transform on Genus One Fibrations

We study relative Fourier–Mukai transforms on genus one fibrations with section, allowing explicitly the total space of the fibration to be singular and non-projective. Grothendieck duality is used to prove a skew–commutativity relation between this equivalence of categories and certain duality functors. We use our results to explicitly construct examples of semi-stable sheaves on degenerating families of elliptic curves.     

Gap orders of rational functions on plane curves with few singular points

We prove that certain integers n cannot occur as degrees of linear series without base points on the normalization of a plane curve whose only singularities are a “small” number of nodes and ordinary cusps. As a consequence we compute the gonality of such a curve. Work done with financial support of M.U.R.S.T. while the authors were members of C.N.R.     

On certain classes of curve singulariries with reduced tangent cone

We study a class of rational curves with an ordinary singular point, which was introduced in [GO]. We find some conditions under which the tangent cone is reduced and we show that the tangent cone is not always reduced. We construct another class of rational curves with an ordinary singular point satisfying the condition required in [GO] and whose tangent cone is always reduced.     

Brill–Noether theory of curves on Enriques surfaces I: the positive cone and gonality

We study the existence of linear series on curves lying on an Enriques surface and general in their complete linear system. Using a method that works also below the Bogomolov–Reider range, we compute, in all cases, the gonality of such curves. We also give a new result about the positive cone of line bundles on an Enriques surface and we show how this relates to the gonality. Dedicated to the memory of Silvano Bispuri. The work of A. L. Knutsen is partially supported by a Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship within the 6th European Community Framework Programme. The work of A. F. Lopez is partially supported by the MIUR national project “Geometria delle varietà algebriche” COFIN 2002--2004.     

Patchworking singular algebraic curves I

In this paper we present a general patchworking procedure for the construction of reduced singular curves having prescribed singularities and belonging to a given linear system on algebraic surfaces. It originates in the Viro “gluing” method for the construction of real non-singular algebraic hypersurfaces. The general procedure includes almost all known particular modifications, and goes far beyond. Some applications and examples illustrate the construction. 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. The second author was also partially supported by the EC-network ‘Algebraic Lie Representations” contract no. ERB-FMRX-CT97-0100.     

Modification systems and integration in their Chow groups

We introduce a notion of integration on the category of proper birational maps to a given variety X, with value in an associated Chow group. Applications include new birational invariants; comparison results for Chern classes and numbers of nonsingular birational varieties; ‘stringy’ Chern classes of singular varieties; and a zeta function specializing to the topological zeta function. In its simplest manifestation, the integral gives a new expression for Chern–Schwartz–MacPherson classes of possibly singular varieties, placing them into a context in which a ‘change-of-variable’ formula holds.     

Laplace equations,Lefschetz properties and line arrangements

In this note we extend the main result in [6] on artinian ideals failing Lefschetz properties, varieties satisfying Laplace equations and existence of suitable singular hypersurfaces. Moreover we characterize the minimal generation of ideals generated by powers of linear forms by the configuration of their dual points in the projective plane and we use this result to improve some propositions on line arrangements and Strong Lefschetz Property at range 2 in [6]. The starting point was an example in [3]. Finally we show the equivalence among failing SLP, Laplace equations and some unexpected curves introduced in [3].     

Weierstrass semigroups whose minimum positive integers are even

We consider three subsets of the set of 2n-semigroups, where for a positive integer n a 2n-semigroup means a numerical semigroup whose minimum positive integer is 2n. These three subsets are obtained by the Weierstrass semigroups of total ramification points on a cyclic covering of the projective line, the Weierstrass semigroups of ramification points on a double covering of a non-singular curve and the Weierstrass semigroups of points on a non-singular curve. We show that the three subsets are different for n ≧ 3. Partially supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (17540046), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Received: 19 June 2006     

Explicit valuations of division polynomials¶of an elliptic curve

In this paper, we estimate valuations of division polynomials and compute them explicitely at singular primes. We show that ν_?(ψ _m (M)) is asymptotically equal to ν_?(m) for a non-torsion point M such that M mod ? is non-zero and non-singular, and it is asymptotically equal to c ₁ m ¹ for some constant c ₁ for a non-torsion point M such that M mod ? is either singular or zero. Furthermore, we show that the common factors of φ _m (M) and ψ _m ²(M) have valuations at ? asymptotically equal to c ₂ m ² for some constant c ₂ when M mod ? is singular, which is a generalization of M. Ayad's result. Received: 10 July 1997 / Revised version: 11 May 1998     

Trigonal non-Gorenstein curves

We answer some questions on trigonal non-Gorenstein curves mainly equipped with a positive Maroni , such as the number of non-Gorenstein points, the kind of such singularities, possible canonical models, uniqueness and number of base points of such linear systems, and the amplitude of the Maroni invariant.     

Weight sequences versus gap sequences at singular points of Gorenstein curves

After some foundational material concerning the so-calledWronskian k-forms, the fundamental notion ofweight sequence at a pointP of a Gorenstein curve (singular or not) is introduced. Thanks to this definition it is possible to extend the notion ofWeierstraß gaps sequence (WGS) at a singular point of a Gorenstein curve. The latter reduces to the classical one for points of smooth curves. In Sections 6 and 7, some geometrical interpretations and discussions of previous results of Widland and Lax are given, showing the naturality of the definition of WGS at a singular point.Work partially supported by GNSAGA-CNR and MURST.     

On a notion of toric special linear systems

In this note, we study linear systems on complete toric varieties X with an invariant point whose orbit under the action of $\mathrm{Aut}(X)$ contains the dense torus T of X. We give a characterization of such varieties in terms of its defining fan and introduce a new definition of expected dimension of linear systems which consider the contribution given by certain toric subvarieties. Finally, we study degenerations of linear systems on these toric varieties induced by toric degenerations.     

Fractal analysis of spiral trajectories of some planar vector fields

We study box dimension, Minkowski content and Minkowski measurability of nonrectifiable, smooth spiral trajectories of some dynamical systems in the plane. From this point of view we consider a standard model of Hopf-Takens bifurcation and study the behaviour of trajectories near singular points and limit cycles.     

A stratification of Hilbert schemes by initial ideals and applications

We show that the set of the homogeneous saturated ideals with given initial ideal in a fixed term-ordering is locally closed in the Hilbert scheme, and that it is affine if the initial ideal is saturated. Then, Hilbert schemes can be stratified using these subschemes. We investigate the behaviour of this stratification with respect to some properties of the closed points. As application, we describe the singular locus of the component of Hilb^{4 z +1} _ℙ4 containing the ACM curves of degree 4. Received: 30 November 1998 / Revised version: 16 September 1999     

Higher order bad loci

Zero-schemes on smooth complex projective varieties, forcing all elements of ample and free linear systems to be reducible, are studied. Relationships among the minimal length of such zero-schemes, the positivity of the line bundle associated with the linear system, and the dimension of the variety are established. Bad linear spaces are also investigated.     

Log canonical thresholds of del Pezzo surfaces in characteristic p

The global log canonical threshold of each non-singular complex del Pezzo surface was computed by Cheltsov. The proof used Kollár–Shokurov’s connectedness principle and other results relying on vanishing theorems of Kodaira type, not known to be true in finite characteristic. We compute the global log canonical threshold of non-singular del Pezzo surfaces over an algebraically closed field. We give algebraic proofs of results previously known only in characteristic 0. Instead of using of the connectedness principle we introduce a new technique based on a classification of curves of low degree. As an application we conclude that non-singular del Pezzo surfaces in finite characteristic of degree lower or equal than 4 are K-semistable.     

Projective varieties admitting an embedding with Gauss map of rank zero

We introduce an intrinsic property for a projective variety as follows: there exists an embedding into some projective space such that the Gauss map is of rank zero, which we call (GMRZ) for short. It turns out that (GMRZ) imposes strong restrictions on rational curves on projective varieties: In fact, using (GMRZ), we show that, contrary to the characteristic zero case, the existence of free rational curves does not imply that of minimal free rational curves in positive characteristic case. We also focus attention on Segre varieties, Grassmann varieties, and hypersurfaces of low degree. In particular, we give a characterisation of Fermat cubic hypersurfaces in terms of (GMRZ), and show that a general hypersurface of low degree does not satisfy (GMRZ).     

Non vanishing loci of Hodge numbers of local systems

We show that closures of families of unitary local systems on quasiprojective varieties for which the dimension of a graded component of Hodge filtration has a constant value can be identified with a finite union of polytopes. We also present a local version of this theorem. This yields the “Hodge decomposition” of the set of unitary local systems with a non-vanishing cohomology extending Hodge decomposition of characteristic varieties of links of plane curves studied by the author earlier. We consider a twisted version of the characteristic varieties generalizing the twisted Alexander polynomials. Several explicit calculations for complements to arrangements are made. A. Libgober was supported by National Science Foundation grant.