A remark on the geometry of elliptic scrolls and bielliptic surfaces (Q1386154)

The authors study the union of two elliptic scrolls in projective spaces \(\mathbb{P}^{n-1}\). The results depend on the dimension \(n-1\). Namely, they prove the following: Theorem 2.4 (Rigidity). Let \(Z= X_i\cup X_j\) be the union of two degree \(n\) elliptic scrolls in \(\mathbb{P}^{n-1}\) (\(n\geq 5\), odd). The component of the Hilbert scheme of surfaces containing \(Z\) is smooth of dimension \(n^2\) at \([Z]\). Every small deformation of \(Z\) is again the union of two degree \(n\) elliptic scrolls intersecting transversally along an elliptic normal curve; and Theorem 3.2 (Smoothing). Let \(Z= X_i\cup X_j\) be the union of two degree \(n\) elliptic scrolls in \(\mathbb{P}^{n-1}\) (\(n\geq 6\), even). Then there exists a flat family of surfaces \((Z_t)_{t\in T}\) in \(\mathbb{P}^{n-1}\) such that \(Z_0= Z\) and \(Z_t\) for \(t\neq 0\) is a linearly normal smooth bielliptic surface of degree \(2n\).