On the nodes of a linear projection of a space curve: A uniqueness problem (Q2581105)

In this paper a uniqueness problem for a general linear projection \(\Gamma\) of a smooth connected non-degenerate curve \(C \subset {\mathbb P}^3\) is considered: denote by \(N\) the set of nodes of \(\Gamma\) (viewed as a reduced subscheme), then uniqueness holds for \(C\) if there is no irreducible plane curve \(\Gamma ' \neq \Gamma\) with \(\deg(\Gamma ')= d:= \text{deg}(C)\) having a node in each point of \(N\) and no other singularity. This is a local version of a problem solved, in characteristic zero, by \textit{A. De Paris} [in: Zero-dimensional schemes. Proc. int. conf. Ravello, Italy, June 8--13, 1992. Berlin: de Gruyter. 131--144 (1994; Zbl 0829.14014)]. The paper under review points out very carefully the analogies and the differences with the results and the methods of De Paris and considers the problem over fields of any characteristic. The paper distinguishes curves sitting or not on a quadric surface. Uniqueness fails in case of a singular quadric and it depends only on the type \((a,b)\) on a smooth quadric with an exception which admits both possibilities. In case of curves not sitting on a quadric uniqueness holds if \(d \geq 13\), while for \(d \leq 12\) it depends on some inequalities among degree, genus and index of speciality of \(C\) with six exceptions for pairs degree-genus, which are considered by means of a case by case analysis: in particular, in three cases, both possibilities happen.