Obstructions to choosing distinct points on cubic plane curves

DOI10.1016/J.AIM.2018.09.040zbMATH Open1407.14023arXiv1806.10207OpenAlexW2810317118WikidataQ129104849 ScholiaQ129104849MaRDI QIDQ1621458FDOQ1621458

Weiyan Chen

Publication date: 8 November 2018

Published in: Advances in Mathematics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: Every smooth cubic plane curve has 9 inflection points, 27 sextatic points, and 72 ``points of type nine". Motivated by these classical algebro-geometric constructions, we study the following topological question: Is it possible to continuously choose $n$ distinct unordered points on each smooth cubic plane curve for a natural number $n$? This question is equivalent to asking if certain fiber bundle admits a continuous section or not. We prove that the answer is no when $n$ is not a multiple of 9. Our result resolves a conjecture of Benson Farb.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1806.10207

zbMATH Keywords

multisectionsmooth cubic plane curve, fiber bundle admits a continuous section, inflection points

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Plane and space curves (14H50) Vector bundles on curves and their moduli (14H60) Elliptic curves (14H52)

Cites Work

• Configuration Spaces.
• The Hesse pencil of plane cubic curves
• Punti di tipo 9 di una cubica ellittica

Cited In (2)

• Section problems for configurations of points on the Riemann sphere
• Choosing points on cubic plane curves: rigidity and flexibility

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