Linkage on arithmetically Cohen-Macaulay schemes with application to the classification of curves of maximal genus. (Q1428099)

Two subschemes \(Y_1\) and \(Y_2\) are algebraically linked by \(Y\) if they are equidimensional, have no embedded components and if their union is \(Y\). They are geometrically linked if in addition they have no common component. In this paper these notions of linkage (or liaison) are investigated for subschemes of a given arithmetically Cohen-Macaulay (possibly singular) projective scheme \(X\), assuming \(Y\) is a complete intersection, i.e. \(Y\) is an equidimensional intersection of \(r\) Cartier divisors \(D_i \in | \mathcal{O}_X(a_i)| \) with \(\text{codim}(Y,X)=r\). The main results hold when the dimension \(m\) of \(Y\) is zero or one, where the author shows the isomorphism: \(H^m(\mathcal{I}_{Y_2/X} \otimes \omega_X(i)) \cong H^1(\mathcal{I}_{Y_1/X} (c-i))^*\). In the first case this takes place for \(i<\text{min}\{a_j\} + {\text{ch}_X}\), where \(c=a_1 + \ldots + a_r\), and \({\text{ch}_X}\) is the smallest integer \(k\) with \(h^0(\omega_X(k)) \neq 0\). In the second case the same result holds for all \(i\). Here, the subschemes \(Y_1\) and \(Y_2\) are assumed to be algebraically or geometrically linked, according to \(X\) being smooth or not. After giving a formula relating the arithmetic genera of linked curves, the paper focuses on the classification of curves in \(\mathbb{P}^n\) of degree \(d\), not contained in a surface of degree \(s-1\), achieving the maximal possible genus (Castelnuovo curves).