Families of smooth curves (Q799748)

The author investigates the geometry of tautological classes on a family \(\pi:X\to B\) of smooth curves whose induced map \(B\to {\mathcal M}_ g\) is finite; specifically, he considers the Chern class \(\omega\) of the relative cotangent bundle, the Gysin images \(\kappa_ i=\pi_*\omega^{i+1}\) of its powers, and their pullbacks \(\kappa =\pi^*\kappa_ 1, {\tilde\kappa }_ i=\pi^*\kappa_ i.\) He arrives at the conclusion that in case B is complete, \(a\omega +b\kappa\) is the class of an ample line bundle on X if \(a>0\) and \(4g(g-1)a+b>0\) (in particular \(\omega\) is ample); but that in general \((4g(g-1)\omega - \kappa)^{g+1}=0.\) In addition, inequalities on the intersections of the classes \(\kappa_ i\) are proved; for example, if B is 2-dimensional and complete, \(\kappa^ 2_ 1>(2g-2)\kappa_ 2\).