An affine open covering of M_g for g 5

Families, moduli of curves (algebraic) (14H10) Moduli, classification: analytic theory; relations with modular forms (14J15) Theta functions and abelian varieties (14K25)

Abstract: We prove that the moduli space

m a t h c a l M_{g}

of smooth curves of genus

g

is the union of

g - 1

affine open subsets for every

g

with

2 l e g l e 5

, as predicted by an intriguing conjecture of Eduard Looijenga.

Review text

Let \(\mathcal{M}_{g,n}\) be the moduli space of smooth curves with \(n\) marked points. In [Invent. Math. 84, 157--176 (1986; Zbl 0592.57009)], \textit{J. L. Harer} proved that \(H_k(\mathcal{M}_{g,n})\) vanishes if \(k>4g-4+n\) if \(n>0\) and if \(k>4g-5\) if \(n=0\). It is expectable, as one can confirm for instance by Problem (6.5) of [\textit{R. Hain} and \textit{E. Looijenga}, Proc. Symp. Pure Math. 62(pt.2), 97--142 (1997; Zbl 0914.14013)], that Harer's vanishing result is a particular instance of deeper geometrical properties of the moduli space \(\mathcal{M}_g\). For example, there is a conjecture of E. Looijenga which states that \(\mathcal{M}_g\) is a union of \(g-1\) affine open subsets (see the survey of \textit{C. Faber} and \textit{E. Looijenga} [in: Moduli of curves and abelian varieties. The Dutch intercity seminar on moduli. Braunschweig: Vieweg. Aspects Math. E33, 23--45 (1999; Zbl 0978.14028)]). In the paper under review, the authors prove this conjecture for \(2\leq g\leq 5\), using methods coming from the theory of modular forms.

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