A matryoshka structure of higher secant varieties and the generalized Bronowski's conjecture (Q2161297)

The algebraic and geometric structure of higher secant varieties \(\sigma_r(X)\) to a projective variety \(X\) are deeply investigated for their links, not only with the structure of the embedding of \(X\) in a projective space, but also with the internal geometry of \(X\). It is known that the degree \(d\) of \(\sigma_r(X)\) is bounded below by \(d\geq \binom{e+r}r\), where \(e\) is the codimension of \(\sigma_r(X)\). Moreover, when \(e\geq 1\) then there are gaps in the possible degrees of \(\sigma_r(X)\), and if \(d\) is not minimal then \(d\geq \binom{d+e}e+\binom{e+r-1}{r-1}\). When the latter bound is achieved, \(\sigma_r(X)\) is said to have almost minimal degree. The authors study conditions that force \(\sigma_r(X)\) to have minimal, or almost minimal degree. They prove that, as it happens for general varieties, the study of the Betti numbers and the Betti tables of \(\sigma_r(X)\) completely characterizes secant varieties of minimal or almost minimal degree. In particular, the minimality (resp. almost minimality) of \(d\) is equivalent to the fact that \(\sigma_r(X)\) satisfies property \(N_{r+1,e}\) (resp. property \(N_{r+1,e+1}\) but not property \(N_{r+1,e}\)). Proofs are obtained by showing how the minimality or almost minimality of the degree of \(\sigma_r(X)\) can be extended from a general inner projection or a general tangential projection of \(X\) to \(X\) itself.