Generic syzygy schemes (Q860423)

Let \(X \subset \mathbb P^n\) be a projective variety such that \(I_X\) is generated by quadrics. Consider the linear strand of the minimal free resolution of \(I_X\). Does a \(p\)-th linear syzygy \(f\) carry any geometric information about \(X\)? Several constructions exist in the literature, giving schemes arising from this resolution that are related to \(X\). For instance, \textit{M. L. Green} [Duke Math. J. 49 , 1087--1113 (1982; Zbl 0607.14005)] introduced the \textit{syzygy scheme} \(\text{Syz}(f)\), which is cut out by the quadrics involved in \(f\). Another invariant is the space \(G^*\) of linear forms involved in \(f\), whose dimension is called the \textit{rank} of \(f\). \textit{F.-O. Schreyer} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 421, 83--123 (1991; Zbl 0729.14021)] showed that when \(p=1\), \(\text{Syz}(f)\) is always a cone over a linear section of a \textit{generic syzygy scheme} \(\text{Gensyz}_k\) with \(k = \text{rank } f -2\), and gave explicit equations. In this paper the author defines more general generic syzygy schemes, \(\text{Gensyz}_k(G)\), and again gives explicit equations. Using this, he gives a generalization of Schreyer's result. He also gives a geometric description of \(\text{Gensyz}_k(G)\) for \(k = 0,1,2\). He uses these results to make some geometric conclusions about projective varieties whose ideals are generated by quadrics. His main application is the following: Let \(C \subset \mathbb P^n\) be a smooth, irreducible, non-degenerate curve. If \(C\) is cut out by quadrics and has a \(p\)-th linear syzygy of rank \(p+3\) then there exists a rank 2 vector bundle \(\mathcal E\) on \(C\) with \(\det {\mathcal E} = {\mathcal O}_C (1)\) and \(h^0({\mathcal E}) \geq p+4\).