VGIT presentation of the second flip of \(\overline{M}_{2,1}\) (Q2225024)

The Hassett-Keel program aims to give an inductive construction of moduli stacks \(\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n}(\alpha)\) of stable curves whose moduli spaces are the log canonical models \[\overline{M}_{g,n}(\alpha)=\operatorname{Proj}\bigoplus_{m=0}^{\infty}(\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n},m(K_{\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n}}+\alpha\delta+(1-\alpha)\psi)).\] \textit{B. Hassett} and \textit{D. Hyeon} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 361, No. 8, 4471--4489 (2009; Zbl 1172.14018); Ann. of Math. 177, No. 3, 911--968 (2013; Zbl 1273.14034)], carried out the first steps of the program for \(\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g}(\alpha)\), by giving GIT constructions for \(\alpha>2/3,\) using Chow and asymptotic Hilbert stability analysis of pluricanonically embedded curves. For \((g,n)=(2,1),\) similar constructions for \(\overline{M}_{2,1}(7/10)\) and \(\overline{M}_{2,1}(7/10-\epsilon)\) have been given by \textit{D. Hyeon} and \textit{Y. Lee} [Int. Math. Res. Not. 2014, No. 13, 3735--3757 (2014; Zbl 1304.14033)]. In this paper, the authors present a GIT construction of \(\overline{M}_{2,1}(\alpha),\) with \(\alpha=2/3\pm\epsilon,\) and thus a VGIT presentation for the second flip in the Hassett-Keel program for \(\overline{M}_{2,1}\). However, the classical techniques of Chow or asymptotic Hilbert stability cannot be applied in this case. Instead, their construction relies on the analysis of the semistability of 2nd Hilbert points of genus 2 curves equipped with a big-log-canonical embedding, which is, in turn, based on the analysis of minimal surfaces on which these curves and their degenerations lie.