On the Hilbert scheme of linearly normal curves in \(\mathbb{P}^r\) of relatively high degree (Q2332122): Difference between revisions

\textit{F. Severi} claimed in the 1920s that the Hilbert scheme \({\mathcal H}_{d,g,r}\) of smooth irreducible non-degenerate curves \(C \subset \mathbb P^r\) of degree \(d\) and genus \(g\) is irreducible for \(d \geq g+r\) [Vorlesungen über algebraische Geometrie. Übersetzung von E. Löffler. Leipzig u. Berlin: B. G. Teubner (1921; JFM 48.0687.01)]. \textit{L. Ein} proved Severi's claim for \(r=3\) and \(r=4\) [Ann. Sci. Éc. Norm. Supér. (4) 19, No. 4, 469--478 (1986; Zbl 0606.14003); Proc. Symp. Pure Math. 46, 83--87 (1987; Zbl 0647.14012)], but there are counterexamples of various authors for \(r \geq 6\). It has been suggested by \textit{C. Ciliberto} and \textit{E. Sernesi} [in: Proceedings of the first college on Riemann surfaces held in Trieste, Italy, November 9-December 18, 1987. Teaneck, NJ: World Scientific Publishing Co. 428--499 (1989; Zbl 0800.14002)] that Severi intended irreducibiity of the Hilbert scheme \({\mathcal H}^{\mathcal L}_{d,g,r} \subset {\mathcal H}_{d,g,r}\) of curves whose general member is linearly normal: indeed, the counterexamples above arise from families whose general member is not linearly normal. Here the authors prove irreducibility for \(g+r-2 \leq d \leq g+r\) (the Hilbert scheme is empty for \(d > g+r\) by Riemann-Roch) and for \(d=g+r-3\) under the additional assumption that \(g \geq 2r+3\). This extends work of \textit{C. Keem} and \textit{Y.-H. Kim} [Arch. Math. 113, No. 4, 373--384 (2019; Zbl 1423.14028)].