Degenerations of Planar Linear Systems

constant, at most 3. This application, while previously known (see cite{hirschowitz1}), demonstrates the utility of our approach, which is based on an analysis of the corresponding linear system on a degeneration of the plane itself, leading to a simple recursion for these dimensions. We also obtain results in the ``quasi-homogeneous case when all the multiplicities are equal except one; this is the natural family to consider in the recursion.

Review text

Let \(p_0, p_1,\dots, p_n\) be \(n+1\) fixed points in \(\mathbb{P}^2\) and let \({\mathcal L}= {\mathcal L}(d, m_0, n, m)\) denote the linear system of plane curves of degree \(d\) with multiplicity \(m_0\) and at \(p_0\) and multiplicity \(m\) at \(p_1,\dots, p_n\). \({\mathcal L}\) is called quasi-homogeneous. Define the virtual dimension of \({\mathcal L}\) to be \[ v(d,m_0,n,m)= d(d+3)/2- m_0(m_0+1)/2- nm(m_1)/2. \] The actual dimension of \({\mathcal L}\) cannot be less than \(-1\) (corresponding to an empty \({\mathcal L}\)) and the authors define the expected dimension of \({\mathcal L}\) to be \[ e= e(d,m_0,n,m)= \max \{-1, v(d,m_0,n,m)\}. \] As the points \(p_i\) vary in \(\mathbb{P}^2\) the dimension of \({\mathcal L}\) is upper semicontinuous and therefore it assumes a minimum value that the authors call the dimension of \({\mathcal L}\) and denote by \(\ell= \ell(d,m_0,n,m)\). Of course \(\ell\geq e\) and equality implies that the conditions imposed by the points \(p_i\) are independent. If \(\ell=e\) the linear system \({\mathcal L}\) is called nonspecial and if \(\ell>e\) the linear system \({\mathcal L}\) is called special. Here the authors discuss the speciality of \({\mathcal L}\). The ``homogeneous cases \(m_0=0\) and \(m\leq 2\) have been considered by \textit{E. Arbarello} and \textit{M. Cornalba} [Math. Ann. 256, 341-362 (1981; Zbl 0454.14023)] and by \textit{A. Hirschowitz} [Manuscr. Math. 50, 337-388 (1985; Zbl 0571.14002)]. These kind of questions have a long history and one may consult the survey by \textit{A. Gimigliano} [in: Curves Semin. at Queen's, Vol. VI, Kingston 1989, Queen's Pap. Pure Appl. Math. 83, Exposé B (1989; Zbl 0743.14005)]. In the present paper the authors propose a new approach which is based on a degeneration of the plane and the corresponding linear system. The failure of \({\mathcal L}\) to be non-special is always due (in the example) to the presence of multiple \((-1)\)-curves in the base locus (i.e. of irreducible rational curves \(A\in{\mathcal L}\) such that \(A^2=-1\) on the blow-up of \(\mathbb{P}^2\)). This is formalized by the authors. They define those linear systems \((-1)\)-special and give a list of them for \(m\leq 3\). Finally the authors prove that all quasi-homogeneous special systems with \(m\leq 3\) are \((-1)\)-special.

Recommendations

Cited in

(57)

This page was built for publication: Degenerations of Planar Linear Systems

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q4208872)