Brill-Noether theory for vector bundles of rank 2 (Q914767)

Consider the moduli space \(U(2,d)\) of semistable vector bundles of rank two on a non-singular curve of genus \(g.\) Denote by \(W^ 1_{2,d}\) the subset consisting of those vector bundles which have at least two independent sections. From the theory of determinantal varieties, one expects this subset to have dimension 2d-3 when the curve is generic. This was proved by \textit{N. Sundaram} [cf. Tôhoku Math. J., II. Ser. 39, 175-213 (1987; Zbl 0631.14021)] for odd d, \(g\leq d\leq 2g-2\). His proof relies on degenerating to a singular curve. In this paper we prove the result in all the range of d where it makes sense, namely \(3\leq d\leq 2g-1\). We also characterize the set of curves for which the result fails, which turn out to be abnormal from the point of view of Brill-Noether theory for line bundles. More precisely, these are the curves such that the set of line bundles of degree \(k\) on S with two sections has dimension at least \(d+2k-2g-1\) for some k with \(2k<d\). - The results are proved without degeneration arguments, representing vector bundles of rank two as extensions of line bundles.