On families of rational curves in the Hilbert square of a surface (Q846225)

Let \(S\) be a smooth projective surface and denote with \(S^{[n]}\) the Hilbert scheme of subschemes of length \(n\). Rational curves in \(S^{[n]}\) correspond, via the usual incidence construction, to curves in \(S\) equipped with a linear series \(g^1_m\), \(m\leq n\). The authors study this correspondence, focusing mainly on the case \(n=2\). When \(S\) has positive geometric genus, the authors prove that irreducible, \(3\)-dimensional families of curves in \(S\), having genus \(g\geq 3\) and hyperelliptic normalization, correspond, with their total spaces, to surfaces \(R\subset S^{[2]}\) with rational normalization. When \(S\) is a general \(K3\), principally polarized surface of genus \(\geq 4\), the construction allows to determine the slope of the Mori cone of \(S^{[2]}\). The authors show, in this situation, that the family of nodal curves of genus \(\geq 3\) with hyperelliptic normalization, contained in \(S\), is non-empty and pure, of dimension \(2\). Examples of \(K3\) surfaces such that \(S^{[2]}\) contains a plane, are provided.