The number of Weierstrass points on some special curves. I (Q1071828)

Let \(M_ g\) be the coarse moduli space of the smooth projective curves of genus g defined over \({\mathbb{C}}\). For \(x\in M_ g\), let \(C_ x\) be the curve corresponding to x. A point P on \(C_ x\) is called a Weierstrass point if there exists a rational function f on \(C_ x\) having a pole of order e at P with \(e\leq g\) and no other poles on \(C_ x\) (i.e. dim(\(| gP|)\geq 1\)- in terms of linear systems). One known that \(e\geq 2\) and \(C_ x\) has a finite number of Weierstrass points. Let \(n\in {\mathbb{Z}}\) with \(2\leq n\leq g\) and let \(S_ n=\{x\in M_ g:\) there exists a point P on \(C_ x\) such that there exists some rational function f as above \(with\quad e\leq n\}.\) One knows that \(S_ n\) is an irreducible subvariety of \(M_ g\) of dimension \(2g-3+n\) [\textit{E. Arbarello}, Compos. Math. 29, 325-342 (1974; Zbl 0355.14013)]. Let \(3\leq n\leq g-1\). The main result of this paper says that there exists a non- empty Zariski-open subset \(U_ n\) of \(S_ n\) such that, if \(x\in U_ n\), then \(C_ x\) has only one Weierstrass point P which is not normal (we say that P is a normal Weierstrass point if each rational function f as above satisfies \(e=g\) or \(e\geq g+2)\). A similar statement does not hold for \(n=2\) (the case of hyperelliptic curves). Also, it is well-known that there exists a non-empty Zariski-open subset U of \(M_ g\) such that every Weierstrass point P on \(C_ x\) is normal if \(x\in U\). The main result for \(n=g-1\) is also proved by \textit{S. Diaz} [Duke Math. J. 51, 905-922 (1984; Zbl 0581.14019)]. The proof uses deformation theory developed by S. Diaz combined with methods developed by \textit{E. Arbarello} and \textit{M. Cornalba} [Comment. Math. Helv. 56, 1-38 (1981; Zbl 0505.14002) and Math. Ann. 256, 341-362 (1981; Zbl 0454.14023)].