No label defined (Q3972825)

[For the entire collection see Zbl 0716.00007.] If \(\mu:E\to F\) is a bundle map and \(r\geq 0\) an integer, then \(D_ r(u)=\{x\in X\mid\hbox{rk}(u(x))\leq r\}\) is the degeneracy locus of \(u\) of rank \(r\). \textit{W. Fulton} and \textit{R. Lazarsfeld} [Ann. Math., II. Ser. 118, 35-60 (1983; Zbl 0537.14009), remark (2), p. 50] stated the following conjectures: Let \(u:E\otimes E\to L (=\) a line bundle) be a symmetric (respectively skew symmetric) bundle map over an irreducible algebraic variety \(X\). If \((\hbox{Sym}^ 2E^*)\otimes L\) (respectively \((\bigwedge^ 2E)\otimes L)\) is ample and \(\dim_ \mathbb{C} X-{e-r+1\choose 2}\geq 1\) (respectively \(\dim_ \mathbb{C} X-{e-r\choose 2}\geq 1)\), then \(D_ r(u)\) is connected. The main result of the paper implies immediately that this conjectures are true if \(r\) is even. Informations concerning the case \(r\) odd are presented in the appendix (written with \textit{J. Harris}; see the following review).