Vectors bundles with theta divisors I-bundles on Castelnuovo curves (Q2390921)

If \(a_1,\dots ,a_g,b_1,\dots ,b_g\) are \(2g\) distinct points on the projective line \({\mathbb P}^1\) (over an algebraically closed field \(k\)), the identification of \(a_i\) with \(b_i\) (\(i=1,\dots ,g\)) gives rise to an integral curve \(X\) of arithmetic genus \(g\) (and with \(g\) nodes). The normalization of \(X\) is \(\tilde{X}={\mathbb P}^1\). Such a curve is called a Castelnuovo curve of genus \(g\). The main result of the paper is the following theorem: If \({\mathcal X}\to \text{Spec}k[[t]]\) is a flat proper family of curves with smooth generic fiber \({\mathcal X}_\eta\), and the special fiber \({\mathcal X}_0\) a Castelnuovo curve of arithmetic genus \(g\geq 2\), then a semistable vector bundle \(V\) on \({\mathcal X}_\eta\) of zero degree which extends as a semistable vector bundle on \({\mathcal X}_0\) has a theta divisor. The theorem is proved by proving first that a semistable bundle \(V\) of degree zero on a Castelnuovo curve \(X\) of genus \(g\geq 2\) has a theta divisor, i.e. there exists a line bundle \(L\) on \(X\) of degree \(1-g\) such that \(\text{Hom} (L,V)=0\).