Syzygies of curves and the effective cone of \(\overline{\mathcal M}_g\) (Q850990)

The Picard group of the moduli space \(\overline{\mathcal M}_g\) of curves of genus \(g\) is generated by the boundary classes \(\delta_0, \dots, \delta_j\), (\(j=[g/2]\)) and the natural divisor \(\lambda\). If \(D\) is a divisor in \(\overline{\mathcal M}_g\), its slope is the smallest rational number \(a/b\) such that \(a\lambda-b(\sum\delta_i)-D\) is an effective combination of boundary divisors. In a previous paper [J. Algebr. Geom. 14, 241--267 (2005; Zbl 1081.14038)], \textit{M. Popa} and the author produced an example of a divisor \({\mathcal K}_{10}\) in \(\overline{\mathcal M}_{10}\), with unexpectedly small slope. The divisor corresponds to curves carrying a \(g^1_6\), \(A\), such that the multiplication map Sym\(^2(K\otimes A\check{}\;)\to H^0((K\otimes A\check{}\;)^{\otimes 2})\) does not surject. \({\mathcal K}_{10}\) contradicts a conjecture of Harris and Morrison, about the minimal slope of divisors in moduli spaces. In the paper under review, the author generalizes the previous construction to higher values of the genus \(g\), of type \(g=6p+10\). For all these values, the author constructs a divisor \({\mathcal K}_g\) with small slope. Essentially, \({\mathcal K}_g\) corresponds to curves having a pencil \(A\) of degree \((g+2)/2\), such that \(K\otimes A\check{}\;\) fails some Green--Lazarsfeld property \(N_i\) on syzygies. When \({\mathcal K}_g\) is effective, then it provides counterexamples to Harris--Morrison conjecture. The author shows that \({\mathcal K}_{16}\) and \({\mathcal K}_{22}\) are indeed effective. As a corollary, comparing with the slope of the canonical divisor, the effectiveness of these divisors proves that some moduli spaces of pointed curves of genus \(g\leq 22\) are of general type.