Curvilinear enumerative geometry (Q1066225)

This paper presents a unified approach, inspired by a remark of Severi, to a number of problems in enumerative geometry. This approach is based on realizing the loci one wishes to enumerate in the form \(X_ k\cap B^ k\subset Z_ k\), where X is a subvariety of Z, \(X_ k\) and \(Z_ k\) are suitable parameter spaces for k-tuples of points on X and Z, and \(B^ k\) is some nice and well-undestood subvariety of \(Z_ k\). One of the main technical results in this paper is a formula for the fundamental class of \(X_ k\) and \(Z_ k\). A number of applications of the present set-up are given, including formulas for multi-secant lines (resp. spaces) to families of projective varieties (resp. curves), formulas for multiple and united points of maps, valid without genericity hypotheses, and a proof that the fundamental class of the locus, in moduli, of curves possessing a given type of linear series is a polynomial in certain standard classes introduced by Mumford.