An interesting algebraic variety (Q1086642)

The authors try to describe for non-specialists the toroidal compactification of the Siegel modular space \({\mathfrak S}_ 2/\Gamma (2)\) of degree 2 and level 2 by using the geometric interpretation of (an open set of) the modular space as the moduli space of hyperelliptic curves of genus 2. Especially the structure of the boundary components is studied by using degeneration of curves.