Maximal subbundles of vector bundles on a curve (Q1062104)

Let \(C\) be a non-singular projective curve of genus \(g\) over an algebraically closed field, and let \(E\) be a vector bundle of rank \(R\) on \(C\). The main theorem of the paper is equivalent to the following theorem: For each \(s=1,\ldots,r-1\), there exists a rank-\(s\) subbundle \(F\) of \(E\) with \(\deg(F)\ge s(\deg(E)-(r-s)g)/r\). This generalizes earlier results by \textit{M. F. Atiyah} [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. (3) 5, 407--434 (1955; Zbl 0174.52804)], \textit{M. Nagata} [Nagoya Math. J. 37, 191--196 (1970; Zbl 0193.21603)], and \textit{H. Lange} [Math. Ann. 262, 447--459 (1983; Zbl 0492.14003)]. The beautiful simple proof is based on a clever use of the connection between a Qout scheme and a Grassmann variety, plus the observation that if \(F\subset E\) is a subbundle of maximal degree (for its rank), then all quotient sheaves of \(E\) with the same rank and degree as \(E/F\) are locally free.