Zero-dimensional subschemes of ruled varieties (Q1767438)

This paper studies 0-dimensional subschemes made of fat points inside ruled varieties with respect to the problem of determining the number of conditions that they impose to linear systems of divisors. This is a problem that has been widely studied, starting with the case of \({\mathbb P}^2\) (but even in this case and for generic points it is still open); the main tools used in this work is the ``Horace method'', also in its refined version, the ``differential Horace method'', developed by \textit{J. Alexander} and \textit{A. Hirschowitz} [Invent. Math. 107, No. 3, 585--602 (1992; Zbl 0784.14002); J. Algebr. Geom. 1, No. 3, 411--426 (1992; Zbl 0784.14001)]. The most complete results are obtained for the Hirzebruch surfaces \({\mathbb F}_e\), \(e=0,1\) (in these two cases either \({\mathbb F}_e\) or any of its blow up at points are isomorphic to blow-ups of \({\mathbb P}^2\)). Results are given also in cases of higher dimensional scrolls, and a motivation of the work is offered by applications to the knowledge of the dimension of higher secant varieties of those varieties, for instance examples are given of varieties which present both defectivity and Grassmann defectivity of their secant varieties.