Smooth curves on generic rational surfaces: a differential Horace lemma (Q1589905)

A general rational surface is a surface, \(X_r\), obtained blowing-up \(r\) general points of \(\mathbb{P}^2\). Thus \(\text{Pic} (X_r)\cong \mathbb{Z}^{ \oplus(r+1)}\). \textit{A. Hirschowitz} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 397, 208-213 (1989; Zbl 0686.14013)] introduced a method to study the cohomology groups of line bundles on \(X_r\) (``method of Horace''), or, equivalently, for general \(P_1, \dots, P_r\in\mathbb{P}^2\) to compute the dimension of the linear system of all degree \(d\) plane curves having multiplicity at least \(m_i\) at \(P_i\). Here the author proves the case \(d\geq m_1+ m_2+m_3\) and \(m_1\geq \cdots\geq m_r\); there is no such curve if \(e:=(d+2) (d+1)/2 \leq 0\). But it gives more: If \(e>0\) and \(0 \leq g\leq 4\), where \(g:=(d-1) (d-2)/2 -m_i/(m_i+1)/2\) is the geometric genus of an irreducible plane curve with ordinary points of multiplicity \(m_1, \dots, m_r\) as only singularities, then the general section of such line bundle is smooth and connected, except if \(r=9\), \(d=3m_1\) and \(m_i=m_1\) for every \(i\).