Gonality of curves on general hypersurfaces (Q1739224)

The main result of this paper provides a formula for the so-called covering gonality $\mathrm{Cov.gon}(X)$ of a general hypersurface $X\subset \mathbb{P}^N$ of large degree in arbitrary dimension. The covering gonality is a measure for the failure of a variety to be uniruled, and is defined as the least gonality of an irreducible curve through a general point on a variety. The main tool used in proofs is the cone of tangent lines having a certain intersection multiplicity with the hypersurface at a point. A curve of gonality $\mathrm{Cov.gon}(X)$ through a general point $p\in X$ is then described as a plane curve, obtained by intersection of $X$ and the linear span of $p$ and a line $\ell$ inside the cone with $p\notin \ell$. Accordantly, the projection from the singular point $ p$ of the curve gives the gonal map.