Characterizing curves on surfaces of special types (Q793806)

Let C be an algebraic curve in \({\mathbb{P}}^ n({\mathbb{C}})\). If C lies on an algebraic surface S, it is obvious that for any hyperplane H, \(C\cap H\) lies on the curve \(S\cap H\) in H. Conversely, if for all general H the points of \(C\cap H\) lie on a curve \(E_ H\) in H of a fixed degree and type, we may ask if C lies on a surface S with hyperplane section \(E_ H\). In this paper, we give a general method for finding a criterion (in the form of a lower bound on the degree of C) which implies that this is the case. We use an idea of B. Segre and deduce results of this type from properties of families of the curves \(E_ H\). As examples, we discuss three special cases and obtain characterizations of the curves on surfaces of degree n-1 in \({\mathbb{P}}^ n\) (for which the \(E_ H\) are rational normal curves), surfaces of degree n in \({\mathbb{P}}^ n\) (for which the \(E_ H\) are elliptic normal curves), and surfaces of degree k in \({\mathbb{P}}^ 3\). Our result in the first case is: Theorem 1. Let C be a nondegenerate, reduced, irreducible curve of degree \(d\geq 2n\) in \({\mathbb{P}}^ n\). If the general hyperplane section of C is contained in a rational normal curve in the hyperplane, then C is contained in a surface of degree n-1 in \({\mathbb{P}}^ n\).