On the Hilbert scheme of linearly normal curves in \(\mathbb{P}^4\) of degree \(d = g+1\) and genus \(g\) (Q2274007)

Many authors have investigated the claim of \textit{F. Severi} [Vorlesungen über algebraische Geometrie. (Übersetzung von E. Löffler.). Leipzig u. Berlin: B. G. Teubner (1921; JFM 48.0687.01)] that for \(d,g\) and \(r \geq 3\), the Hilbert scheme \({\mathcal H}_{d,g,r}\) of smooth connected curves of degree \(d\) and genus \(g\) in \(\mathbb P^r\) is irreducible for \(d \geq g+r\). \textit{L. Ein} proved the claim for \(r=3\) and \(r=4\) [Ann. Sci. Éc. Norm. Supér., IV. Sér., 19, 469--478 (1986; Zbl 0606.14003); Proc. Symp. Pure Math. 46, 83--87 (1987; Zbl 0647.14012)], but for \(r \geq 6\) there are counterexamples. It has been suggested by \textit{C. Ciliberto} and \textit{E. Sernesi} [in: Proceedings of the first college on Riemann surfaces held in Trieste, Italy, November 9-December 18, 1987. Teaneck, NJ: World Scientific Publishing Co.. 428--499 (1989; Zbl 0800.14002)] and Lopez in his Mathematical Review of an earlier paper of \textit{C. Keem} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 122, No. 2, 349--354 (1994; Zbl 0860.14003)] that Severi only intended his claim for linearly normal curves in the Brill-Noether range. The authors of the current paper consider the Hilbert scheme \({\mathcal H}_{d,g,r}^{\mathcal L} \subset {\mathcal H}_{d,g,r}\) consisting of irreducible components whose general member is linearly normal. The main result states that \({\mathcal H}_{g+1,g,4}^{\mathcal L}\) is irreducible whenever it is non-empty, except when \(g=9\). Most of the paper deals with the low genus cases \(g \leq 12\) before a uniform approach covers the rest of the possibilities. The arguments consist mainly of dimension counts of components of moduli spaces of linear series on curves [\textit{E. Arbarello} et al., Geometry of algebraic curves. Volume I. Berlin: Springer (1985; Zbl 0559.14017)] and \textit{E. Arbarello} et al. [Geometry of algebraic curves. Volume II. With a contribution by Joseph Daniel Harris. Berlin: Springer (2011; Zbl 1235.14002)] and use irreducibility of the Severi variety of plane curves [\textit{J. Harris}, Invent. Math. 84, 445--461 (1986; Zbl 0596.14017)] and work of \textit{H. Iliev} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 134, No. 10, 2823--2832 (2006; Zbl 1097.14022)].