The Griffiths infinitesimal invariant for a curve in its Jacobian (Q1896009)

Let \(\pi : {\mathcal C} \to U\) be a family of smooth projective curves of genus \(g \geq 3\) and \({\mathcal J} \to U\) the associated family of Jacobians. The basic cycles \(C_t^+ - C^-_t\) on the Jacobian varieties \({\mathcal I}_t = J(C_t)\) of the fibres \(C_t = \pi^{-1} (t)\) define a normal function \(\nu\) of the associated family of intermediate Jacobians \({\mathcal I}^{g - 1} ({\mathcal I}) \to U\). In the paper the Griffiths' infinitesimal invariant \(\delta\nu\) of \(\nu\) is computed almost explicitly using a formula of Griffiths. It is shown that \(\delta\nu\) carries a rich amount of information, for example: Ceresa's result that \(C^+ - C^-\) is not algebraically equivalent zero for a general curve \(C\) can be derived, and it is shown that \(\delta \nu\) can be interpreted as an equation of the canonical plane model of the curve \(C\).