Deforming curves in Jacobians to non-Jacobians: II: Curves in \(C^{(e)}\), \(3 \leqslant e \leqslant g-3\) (Q2574976)

The author uses deformation theoretic methods to consider the question of when a curve \(X\) in a nonhyperelliptic Jacobian JC will deform with JC to a non-Jacobian. In Part I [Geom.~Dedicata 116, 87--109 (2005; Zbl 1098.14033)], the author considered a curve \(X\) in the second symmetric power \(C^{(2)}\) of \(C\). In this part the results are extended to curves in \(C^{(e)}\), with \(3 \leq e \leq g-3\). The main result is that if \(g^1_d\) is a pencil of degree \(d\) on \(C\), and, \(X\) is the curve parametrizing divisors of degree \(e\) in divisors of \(g^1_d\), and \(X\) deforms infinitesimally out of the Jacobian locus with JC, then, under certain genericity hypotheses, either \(d=2e\), \(\dim H^0(g^1_d)=e\) or \(d=2e+1\), \(\dim H^0(g^1_d)=e+1\). The main motivation for both parts is to solve the Hodge conjecture for the primitive cohomology of the theta divisor.