Osculating behavior of the Kummer surface in \(\mathbb{P}^5\) (Q1746641): Difference between revisions

A theorem of \textit{R. H. Dye} [Proc. Edinb. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 35, No. 3, 437--447 (1992; Zbl 0742.51020)], based on a classical example by W.L. Edge, proves that smooth Kummer surfaces \(S\) which are complete intersection of three quadrics in \(\mathbb P^5\) have the following differential properties: the osculating space at a general point of \(S\) has dimension \(4\), smaller than the expected value. In classical language, \(S\) satisfies one Laplace equation of order \(3\). This behavior is quite peculiar for surfaces in high dimensional projective spaces. It is typical for ruled surfaces, but it cannot hold when \(S\) is smooth, not uniruled, and the degree of \(S\) is large enough. The author describes a proof of Dye's theorem in terms of properties of the second fundamental form. The author also describes how Dye's example fits into the (partially known) classification of surfaces satisfying Laplace equations.