The Hesse curve of a Lefschetz pencil of plane curves

Abstract: We prove that for a generic Lefschetz pencil of plane curves of degree

d g e q 3

there exists a curve

H

(called the Hesse curve of the pencil) of degree

6 (d - 1)

and genus

3 (4 d^{2} - 13 d + 8) + 1

, and such that:

(i)

H

has

d^{2}

singular points of multiplicity three at the base points of the pencil and

3 (d - 1)^{2}

ordinary nodes at the singular points of the degenerate members of the pencil;

(i i)

for each member of the pencil the intersection of

H

with this fibre consists of the inflection points of this member and the base points of the pencil.

Cited in

(6)

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