Compactifications of configurations of points on \({\mathbb P}_1\) and quadratic transformations of projective space. (Q698635)

The moduli space \(\overline{\mathcal M}_{0,n}\) of stable rational \(n\)-pointed curves, constructed by \textit{M. Kontsevich} [Commun. Math. Phys. 147, No. 1, 1--23 (1992; Zbl 0756.35081)], can be obtained by blowing up \(\mathbb{P}^{n-2}\) at \(n-1\) generic points and their spanned projective subspaces [cf. \textit{M. M. Kapranov}, J. Algebr. Geom. 2, No. 2, 239--262 (1993; Zbl 0790.14020)]. In the paper under review, the author investigates this birational decomposition. He constructs a sequence \(\overline{\mathcal M}_{0,n}\to K_n{\mathcal M}_{0,n}\to\dots\to K_1{\mathcal M}_{0,n}={\mathbb{P}}^{n-3}\), and gives the intermediate spaces a moduli-theoretic interpretation as the variety \(K_l{\mathcal M}_{0,n}\) representing over \(\mathbb{Z}\) the functor of stable \((l,n)\)-pointed rational curves. This functor appears after modifying the stability condition in the following suitable way: It represents the set of flat and proper morphisms \(\pi\colon C\to S\) over a scheme \(S\) together with \(n\) sections \(s_i\) and a subset \(Q\) of \(l\) sections, such that (a) the geometric fibres \(C_s\) of \(\pi\) are reduced and connected rational curves with at most weakly normal singularities, (b) \(P_i=s_i(s)\) are smooth points in \(C_s\) and \(P_i\neq P_j\) for \(i\neq j\) if \(s_i,s_j\in Q\), (c) each rational component of \(C_s\) has at least one labeled point belonging to \(Q\), and the number of points where it meets the rest of \(C_s\) plus the total number of its labeled points is at least 3.