On \(k\)-gonal loci in Severi varieties on general \(K3\) surfaces and rational curves on hyperkähler manifolds (Q2440852)

Let \((S,H)\) be a primitively polarized \(K3\) surface of genus \(p\geq 2\). The authors consider the Severi variety \(V_{|H|,\delta}(S)\) of nodal curves in the linear series \(|H|\) on \(S\), having \(\delta\leq p\) nodes. The purpose is a description of the gonality of the normalization of such curves. Indeed, the gonality of smooth curves \(C\in |H|\) is constantly equal to \(\lfloor (p+3)/2\rfloor\), but the situation changes for \(\delta>0\): while the gonality of the normalization \(\tilde C\) of a \textit{general} curve \(C\in V_{|H|,\delta}(S)\) is equal to \(\lfloor (p-\delta+3)/2\rfloor\), yet there are non-empty strata formed by curves of lower gonality. The authors study the geometry of the stratum \(V^{r,k}_{|H|,\delta}(S)\) of curves whose normalization has a \(g^r_d\), and determine a necessary numerical condition on \(p,\delta,k,r\) for the non-emptyness of the stratum. The authors show that the numerical condition is also sufficient, when \(r=1\), and moreover \(V^{1,k}_{|H|,\delta}(S)\) has a component of the expected dimension. The result is obtained by following the behaviour of the Severi varieties under a two-step degeneration of \(S\): first \(S\) is specialized to a surface \(S'\) containing a smooth rational curve, then \(S'\) is specialized to the union of two rational normal surfaces. As an application of their results, the authors show the existence of certain families of rational curves in the hyperkähler manifold Hilb\(^k(S)\). In this way, the authors provide a tool for the analysis of the Mori cone of \(\mathrm{Hilb}^k(S)\).