Second order theta functions on the Jacobian of a smooth curve. (Q1174467)

Let \(A\) be a complex abelian variety of dimension \(g\geq3\), \(\Theta\) a symmetric theta divisor defining a principal polarization on \(A\), \(| 2\Theta|_ \infty\) the linear system of all those divisors in \(|2\Theta|\) with multiplicity greater or equal to 4 at the origin of \(A\), and \(V(|2\Theta|_ \infty)\) the scheme-theoretic intersection of all divisors in \(|2\Theta|_ \infty\). A conjecture due to \textit{B. van Geemen} and \textit{G. van der Geer} [cf. Am. J. Math. 108, 615-642 (1986; Zbl 0612.14044){]} states that the latter subscheme of \(A\) is concentrated at the origin if \(A\) is not the Jacobian of a curve. G. Welters has shown that if \(A\) is the Jacobian of a curve \(C\) of genus \(g\neq4\), then the subscheme \(V(|2\Theta|_ \infty)\) is set-theoretically equal to the surface \(C-C\subseteq C\times C\), and equal to \(C-C\) plus two other isolated points in the case of \(g=4\) [cf. \textit{G. E. Welters}, ``The surface \(C-C\) on Jacobi varieties and 2nd order theta functions'', Acta Math. 157, 1-22 (1986)]. In the first part of the present paper, the author provides a certain refinement of Welters' result. More precisely, he shows that if \(A\) is the Jacobian of a non-hyperelliptic curve \(C\) of genus \(g\geq3\), then \(V(|2\Theta|_ \infty)\) is smooth off the origin, hence even scheme-theoretically equal to \(C-C\) off the origin for \(g\neq4\). --- The second part of the paper is devoted to the infinitesimal study of the subscheme \(V(|2\Theta|_ \infty)\). It is shown that for a non- hyperelliptic Jacobian \(A=J(C)\) the infinitesimal scheme \(V_{inf}(|2\Theta|_ \infty)\), regarded as a subscheme of \(\mathbb{P}^{g-1}\), is either equal to the canonical image of the curve \(C\) itself, or equal to \(C\) plus one additional point.