The degree of the tangent and secant variety to a projective surface (Q2174107)

Let \(S\) denote a smooth complex surface. When the embedding of \(S\) in the projective spave \(\mathbb{P}^n\) is given by a \(2\)-very ample bundle \(h\) one can identify the Hilbert scheme \(\operatorname{Hilb}^2 S\) with the subvariety of the Grassmanian \(\mathbb{G}(1,n)\) parametrising all the secant lines to \(S\) (see [\textit{F. Catanese} and \textit{L. Goettsche}, Manuscr. Math. 68, No. 3, 337--341 (1990; Zbl 0729.14006)]). By writing the class of \(h\) as a linear combination of Schubert cycles (such as \(K^2_S\)) and some properties of the embedding (such as \(\deg h^2\) of the embedding) the author computes explicitely these coefficients and gives enumerative interpretations of them. It turns out that one of them provides the degree of the secant variety of \(S\). Under the assumption that \(h\) is \(3\)-very ample in an analogous way the author studied the subvariety of the Grassmanian \(\mathbb{G}(2,n)\) parametrizing the tangent planes to \(S\). Then a formula of the tangent variety of \(S\) turns out. In the approach in the paper the author wants to emphasize and exploit the link between the enumerative properties of \(S\) and the geometry of its Hilbert scheme \(\operatorname{Hilb}^2 S\).