The gonality conjecture on syzygies of algebraic curves of large degree (Q897008)

Let \(C\) be a smooth curve of genus \(g\geq 2\) over the complex field, and let \(L\) be a very ample line bundle defining an embedding of \(C\) in \(\mathbb PH^0(C,L)=\mathbb P^r\). Let \(S\) be the symmetric algebra over \(H^0(C,L)\), let \(R\) be the \(S\)-module \(\bigoplus_m H^0(C,mL)\), and let \(E_\bullet\) be a minimal graded free resolution of \(R\) over \(S\). Then \(K_{p,q}(L)\) denotes the vector space of minimal generators of \(E_p\) in degree \(p+q\). The property \((M_q)\), \(1\leq q\leq g\), is defined by the conditions \(K_{i,j}(L)=0\) for all \(i\geq r-q\), \(j\neq 2\). Generalizing earlier conjectures of Green, in [Invent. Math. 83, 73--90 (1986; Zbl 0594.14010)] \textit{M. Green} and \textit{R. Lazarsfeld} stated the following ``gonality conjecture'': If \(\deg L\gg 0\), then \((M_q)\) fails if and only if \(C\) has a \(g^1_q\), i.e. there exists a line bundle \(A\) on \(C\) with \(\deg A=q\), \(h^0(C,A)=2\). In this article the authors prove that, if \(\deg L\gg 0\), then \(K_{p,1}(L)\neq 0\) if and only if \(1\leq p\leq r-\mathrm{gon}(C)\), where \(\mathrm{gon}(C)\) denotes the gonality of \(C\). This extends previous results of \textit{M. L. Green} [J. Differ. Geom. 19, 125--167, 168--171 (1984; Zbl 0559.14008); ibid. 20, 279--289 (1984; Zbl 0559.14009)], \textit{M. Aprodu} [Int. Math. Res. Not. 2004, No. 63, 3409--3416 (2004; Zbl 1072.14036)], and \textit{M. Aprodu} and \textit{C. Voisin} [C. R., Math., Acad. Sci. Paris 336, No. 4, 335--339 (2003; Zbl 1074.14522)]. The proof of this theorem follows from a more general result: For a fixed line bundle \(B\) on \(C\), the authors consider the \(S\)-module \(\bigoplus_m H^0(C,B+mL)\). This gives rise to Koszul cohomology groups \(K_{p,q}(C,B;L)\) analogous to the ones introduced above. The second main result of the article is that \(K_{p,1}(C,B;L)=0\), for any \(L\) of degree large enough, if and only if \(B\) is \(p\)-very ample. Moreover, if \(B\) is not \(p\)-very ample they are able to estimate the function \(\dim K_{p,1}(C,B;L_d)\), where \(L_d=dA+E\), \(E\) an arbitrary divisor. The method of proof is suggested by the approach introduced by Voisin in her proof of Green's conjecture for general canonical curves.