Some results on the existence of rank two special stable vector bundles (Q1197375)

Let \(X\) be a smooth projective curve of genus \(g\geq 2\) over the complex numbers. Denote by \(W^ r_{n,d}\) the subset of the moduli variety of stable vector bundles \(E\) of rank \(n\) and degree \(d\) on \(X\) with \(\dim H^ 0(X,E)\geq r+1\). The author is concerned with the question: When is this subset nonempty? For \(n=1\), \textit{P. Griffiths} and \textit{J. Harris} [Duke Math. J. 47, 233-272 (1980; Zbl 0446.14011)] proved that there exist numbers \(\rho(1,r,d)\) such that for a general \(X\) one has \(W^ r_{1,d}\neq\emptyset\) if and only if \(\rho(1,r,d)\geq 0\). \textit{N. Sundaram} [Tôhoku Math. J., II. Ser. 39, 175-213 (1987; Zbl 0631.14021)] showed that there exist \(\rho(2,r,d)\) such that if \(W^ r_{2,d}\neq\emptyset\), then \(\dim W^ r_{2,d}\geq\rho(2,r,d)\) while \textit{M. Teixidor} [Europroj News Letter, 1991] pointed out that if \(W^ 2_{2,d}\) is nonempty then it has \(\dim=\rho(2,2,d)\) for a general \(X\). ---The author proves here the following results for a general \(X\): (1) \(W^ 2_{2,d}\neq\emptyset\) if and only if \(\rho(2,2,d)\geq 0\). (2) If \(\rho(2,r+1,d)\geq 0\) or if \(d\geq 3\), \(r \text{odd},(r+1)/2\) divides \(g\) and \(\rho(2,r,d)\geq 0\), then \(W^ r_{2,d}\neq\emptyset\). The proofs are by direct construction and depend heavily on the above results of Griffiths and Harris plus the author's criterion of liftability of a section of a quotient line bundle of a vector bundle to a section of the vector bundle itself.