Clifford's theorem for real algebraic curves (Q968255)

Given a special and effective divisor \(D\) of degree \(\deg(D)\) on a smooth algebraic curve the dimension of the linear system \(|D|\) satisfy the so called Clifford inequality \(\dim|D|\leq \deg (D)/2\). Let \(X\) be a smooth real algebraic curve of genus \(g\) and let \(s\) be the number of real connected components of \(X\). By Harnack's theorem we have \(s\leq g+1\). If \(s\geq g\) then \textit{J. Huisman} [Indag. Math., New Ser. 14, 197--207 (2003; Zbl 1063.14074)] has shown that \(\dim|D|\leq (\deg (D) - \delta(D))/2\), where \(\delta(D)\) is the number of connected components of \(X\) such that \(\deg(D)\) is odd. There exist a family of real hyperelliptic curves for which this inequality does not hold [\textit{J.-P. Monnier}, Adv. Geom. 3, 339--360 (2003; Zbl 1079.14013)]. In the paper under review, the author shows that either \(\dim|D|\leq (\deg (D) - \delta(D))/2\), and this inequality holds if \(s\leq 1\) or \(s\geq g\), or \(\dim|D|\leq (\deg (D) - \beta(D))/2\) where \(\beta(D)\) is the number of connected components of \(X\) such that \(\deg(D)\) is even. The author studies the cases for which the equalities hold and he also improves the Castelnuovo's bound for certain smooth projective real curves.