Generalized divisors on Gorenstein curves and a theorem of Noether (Q1088738)

In {\S}1 the author develops a general theory of divisors and linear systems on an integral projective curve with Gorenstein singularities. A (generalized) divisor is synonymous with a fractional ideal, i.e. a subsheaf of the constant sheaf of the function field of the curve C which is coherent as \({\mathcal O}_ C\)-module. The sum of two divisors is defined only if one of them is a Cartier divisor. The notion of complete linear systems, Riemann-Roch theorem and Serre duality theorem remain valid. As an example the author gives a new proof of a theorem of Fujita which says that the canonical system \(| K|\) has no base points if \(p_ a(C)>0\), and is very ample if \(p_ a(C)>1\). - In {\S}2 he applies the results of {\S}1 to prove a theorem about an irreducible plane curve of degree \(k.\) If Z is a subscheme of finite length d of C, it gives a precise upper bound for \(h^ 0({\mathcal O}_ C(Z))\) in terms of k and d and tells when the bound is attained. The proof is by induction on k, and even when C is non-singular (the case Max Noether considered) one has to deal with singular curves in the course of induction, and this is the point ignored by Noether.