The Gauss map of a generic hypersurface in \({\mathbb{P}}^ 4\) (Q1103692)

Singularities of Gauss maps are studied for algebraic hypersurfaces of complex projective 4-space. Such a hypersurface \(M\subset {\mathbb{P}}^ 4\) is called \textit{Gauss-stable} if, for every point \(x\in M\), the germ at x of the Gauss map \(\gamma: M\to {\mathbb{P}}^{4*}\) is a stable Legendre map germ. It is proved that the set of Gauss-stable hypersurfaces of degree \(d\) is a nonempty Zariski open subset of the space of all smooth degree \(d\) hypersurfaces in \({\mathbb{P}}^ 4\). The singularities of the Gauss map of a Gauss-stable hypersurface are classified, and this classification is related to the differential geometry of the second fundamental form. The Thom-Boardman symbols of these singularities are \(\Sigma ^ 1,\Sigma ^ 2,\Sigma ^{1,1},\Sigma ^{1,1,1}\). They correspond, respectively, to singularities of tangent hyperplane sections of M of types \(A_ 2,D_ 4,A_ 3,A_ 4\). The degree of each singularity type is computed. For example, the number of points of a degree \(d\) Gauss-stable hypersurface at which the tangent hyperplane section has an \(A_ 4\) singularity is \(5d(d-2)(3d-7)(17d-36)\). The geometry of the curve of \(A_ 3\) points is studied in detail, as well as the Fano surface of the cubic threefold and its relation to the singularities of the Gauss map.