Hilbert curves of polarized varieties

Let X be a normal Gorenstein complex projective variety. We introduce the Hilbert variety V_X associated to the Hilbert polynomial χ(x₁L₁+?+x_ρL_ρ), where L₁,…,L_ρ is a basis of , ρ being the Picard number of X, and x₁,…,x_ρ are complex variables. After studying general properties of V_X we specialize to the Hilbert curve of a polarized variety (X,L), namely the plane curve of degree dim(X) associated to χ(xK_X+yL). Special emphasis is given to the case of polarized threefolds.