Big Schottky (Q1111641)

Let J: \(M_ g\to A_ g\) be the map from the moduli space of curves of genus g to the moduli space of principally polarized abelian varieties. The Schottky-Jung relations are explicit equations in the theta-nulls defining subsets \(S_ g^{small}\) and \(S_ g^{big}\) of \(A_ g\) that could both be called the Schottky locus. (The former of these loci is defined by the same equations as the latter, together with all their conjugates under the action of the modular group.) It is known that \(J(M_ g)\subset S_ g^{small}\subset S_ g^{big}.\) The author proves that \(J(M_ g)\) is an irreducible component of \(S_ g^{big}\). The corresponding result for \(S_ g^{small}\) was proven by Van Geemen. This paper follows the same method: By taking compactifications of the moduli spaces involved it is possible to perform induction on g by degenerating towards the boundaries of these compactifications. To prove his theorem the author uses Prym varieties to analyze these boundaries and their intersections with the closure of \(S_ g^{big}\) in the compactification of \(A_ g\).