On the intersection of ACM curves in \(\mathbb{P}^3\) (Q2341531)

The paper investigates the intersection of two space curves \(C_1,C_2\), trying to establish an upper bound for the number of common points and to prove that such a bound is attained under some conditions on the curves. A complete and general answer being very difficult to be obtained, the paper considers only arithmetically Cohen-Macaulay (ACM) curves. Since the (arithmetic) genus of \(C_1 \cup C_2\) is determined by the intersection \(C_1 \cap C_2\) and the two genera, the paper also investigates the maximum genus of a reducible curve. In the case of two complete intersections a complete answer is easily obtained (a general bound, with the proof that it can be attained by smooth curves). The main theorem of the paper (that holds true in characteristic \(0\)) gives a general bound for a curve \(C = C_1 \cup C_2\), the two components being integral ACM curves. The proof of such a bound requires a fine investigation of the \(h\)-vector of a curve, that is of the second difference of the Hilbert function, and of the related biliaison type. The theorem states that, if \(d_1,d_2\) are the two degrees of the components and \(C_i, i = 1,2\) lies on a surface of least degree \(s_i\), then, if the biliaison type \(\lambda_Z\) of the hyperplane section \(Z\) of \(C_1 \cup C_2\) has no gaps, then the arithmetic genus \(p_a(C_1 \cap C_2)\) does not exceed \(G_{CM}((d_1+d_2),\)max\((s_1.s_2))\), where \(G_{CM}(d,s)\) equals the maximum genus of an integral ACM curve of degree \(d\) and not lying on a surface of degree \(s-1\), if such a curve exists, and \(0\) otherwise. In the event that the biliaison type has a gap, or if \(C_1 \cup C_2\) lies on a surface of smallest degree \(s_1+s_2\), then the number of intersection points of the two curves does not exceed min\((d_1s_2,d_2s_1)\). Furthermore the main theorem states that, if equality holds (in both cases), then \(C_1 \cup C_2\) is ACM. The above bounds can be improved by using the degrees \(t_i, i =1, 2\) of the second surface containing \(C_i\). The paper also contains a few theorems on the existence of smooth curves lying on good surfaces (with isolated singularities) and on smooth linked curves having the maximum number of intersection points. The last section of the paper contains a list of open problems.