Singularities of plane rational curves via projections

We consider the parameterization f=(f0:f1:f2)of a plane rational curve C of degree n, and we study the singularities of C via such parameterization. We use the projection from the rational normal curve Cn⊂Pn to C and its interplay with the secant varieties to Cn. In particular, we define via f certain 0-dimensional schemes Xk⊂Pk, 2≤k≤(n−1), which encode all information on the singularities of multiplicity ≥k of C (e.g. using X2 we can give a criterion to determine whether C is a cuspidal curve or has only ordinary singularities). We give a series of algorithms which allow one to obtain information about the singularities from such schemes

Scrolls and hyperbolicity

Using degeneration to scrolls, we give an easy proof of non-existence of curves of low genera on general surfaces in P3 of degree d >=5. We show, along the same lines, boundedness of families of curves of small enough genera on general surfaces in P3. We also show that there exist Kobayashi hyperbolic surfaces in P3 of degree d = 7 (a result so far unknown), and give a new construction of such surfaces of degree d = 6. Finally we provide some new lower bounds for geometric genera of surfaces lying on general hypersurfaces of degree 3d > 15 in P4.Comment: 17

Singular Curves of Low Degree and Multifiltrations from Osculating Spaces

In order to study projections of smooth curves, we introduce multifiltrations obtained by combining flags of osculating spaces. We classify all configurations of singularities occurring for a projection of a smooth curve embedded by a complete linear system away from a projective linear space of dimension at most two. In particular, we determine all configurations of singularities of non-degenerate degree d rational curves in $\mathbb{P}^n$ when $d - n \leq 3$ and $d < 2n$. Along the way, we describe the Schubert cycles giving rise to these projections. We also reprove a special case of the Castelnuovo bound using these multifiltrations: under the assumption $d < 2n$, the arithmetic genus of any nondegenerate degree $d$ curve in $\mathbb{P}^n$ is at most $d - n$.Comment: 34 pages, 11 tables, 2 figures; v2 added references and made minor corrections; v3 more minor revisions, to appear in IMR

Equivalent birational embeddings II: divisors

Two divisors in $\P^n$ are said to be Cremona equivalent if there is a Cremona modification sending one to the other. We produce infinitely many non equivalent divisorial embeddings of any variety of dimension at most 14. Then we study the special case of plane curves and rational hypersurfaces. For the latter we characterise surfaces Cremona equivalent to a plane.Comment: v2 Exposition improved, thanks to referee, unconditional characterization of surfaces Cremona equivalent to a plan

Changing Views on Curves and Surfaces

Visual events in computer vision are studied from the perspective of algebraic geometry. Given a sufficiently general curve or surface in 3-space, we consider the image or contour curve that arises by projecting from a viewpoint. Qualitative changes in that curve occur when the viewpoint crosses the visual event surface. We examine the components of this ruled surface, and observe that these coincide with the iterated singular loci of the coisotropic hypersurfaces associated with the original curve or surface. We derive formulas, due to Salmon and Petitjean, for the degrees of these surfaces, and show how to compute exact representations for all visual event surfaces using algebraic methods.Comment: 31 page