Some results on the second Gaussian map for curves (Q846230)

For a curve \(X\), the higher Gaussian maps \(\mu_i\) of the canonical bundle \(K_X\) are higher order generalisations of the classical Gauss map of the canonical embedding of \(X\) (see for example [\textit{J. Wahl}, Lond. Math. Soc. Lect. Note Ser. 179, 304--323 (1992; Zbl 0790.14014)]). The first Gaussian map for \(K_X\) has been intensively studied, and especially the relationship between its corank and the geometric properties of \(X\). The paper under review deals with the rank of the second Gaussian map \(\mu_2\). The geometrical motivation for this investigation comes from the relationship of \(\mu_2\) with the curvature of the moduli space \(M_g\) of curves of genus \(g\), endowed with the Siegel metric induced by the Torelli map from \(M_g\) to the moduli space of abelian \(g\)-folds. This relationship suggests that the rank of the \(\mu_2\) could give information on the geometry of \(M_g\). Moreover, the paper [\textit{E. Colombo, P. Frediani}, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 362, No. 3, 1231--1246 (2010; Zbl 1196.14025)] gives a formula for the holomorphic sectional curvature of \(M_g\) along a Schiffer variation \(\xi_P\) (where \(P\) is a point of \(X\)) in terms of the holomorphic sectional curvature of \(A_g\) and the second Gaussian map \(\mu_2\). This formula gives a direct application of the results of the paper under review. The main results of this paper are the computation of the rank of \(\mu_2\) for hyperelliptic curves of genus \(\geq 3\) and trigonal curves of genus \(g\geq 8\). Furthermore, infinitely many examples of curves lying on the product of curves with surjective second Gaussian map are exhibited, generalising constructions of Wahl for the first Gaussian map. Note that the surjectivity of \(\mu_2\) is expected for general curves of genus at least 18, and that other examples of curves with surjective second Gaussian map were constructed in [\textit{E. Ballico, C. Fontanari}, Ric. Mat. 53, No. 1, 79--85 (2004; Zbl 1221.14035)]. Further results in the paper under review are the injectivity of \(\mu_2\) for general curves of genus \(\leq 6\) and global generation of the image of \(\mu_2\) for curves that are neither hyperelliptic nor trigonal.