Canonical systems and their limits on stable curves

We propose an object called 'sepcanonical system' on a stable curve $X_0$ which is to serve as limiting object- distinct from other such limits introduced previously- for the canonical system, as a smooth curve degenerates to $X_0$. First for curves which cannot be separated by 2 or fewer nodes, the so-called '2-inseparable' curves, the sepcanonical system is just the sections of the dualizing sheaf, which is not very ample iff $X_0$ is a limit of smooth hyperelliptic curves (such $X_0$ are called 2-inseparable hyperelliptics). For general, 2-separable curves $X_0$ this assertion is false, leading us to introduce the sepcanonical system, which is a collection of linear systems on the '2-inseparable parts' of $X_0$, each associated to a different twisted limit of the canonical system, where the entire collection varies smoothly with $X_0$. To define sepcanonical system, we must endow the curve with extra structure called an 'azimuthal structure'. We show that the sepcanonical system is 'essentially very ample' unless the curve is a tree-like arrangement of 2-inseparable hyperelliptics. In a subsequent paper, we will show that the latter property is equivalent to the curve being a limit of smooth hyperelliptics, and will essentially give defining equation for the closure of the locus of smooth hyperelliptic curves in the moduli space of stable curves. The current version includes additional references to, among others, Catanese, Maino, Esteves and Caporaso.Comment: arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1011.0406; to appear in J. Algebr

Rank of divisors on graphs: an algebro-geometric analysis

The divisor theory for graphs is compared to the theory of linear series on curves through the correspondence associating a curve to its dual graph. An algebro-geometric interpretation of the combinatorial rank is proposed, and proved in some cases.Comment: Final version incorporating referee remarks. Dedicated to Joe Harris for his sixtiest birthday. 23 page

Geometry of the theta divisor of a compactified jacobian

We study the theta divisor of the compactified jacobian of a nodal, possibly reducible, curve. We compute its irreducible components and give it a geometric interpretation consistent with the classical Brill-Noether theory of smooth curves. Some applications on hyperelliptic stable curves are appended.Comment: 36 pages. Final version, to appear in JEM

Linear series on semistable curves

The dimension of spaces of global sections for line bundles on semistable curves parametrized by the compactified Picard scheme is studied. The theorem of Riemann is shown to hold. The theorem of Clifford is shown to hold in the following cases: the curve has two components; the curve is any semistable curve and the degree is either 0 or 2g-2; the curve is stable, free from separating nodes, and the degree is at most 4. These results are all shown to be sharp. Applications to the Clifford index, to the combinatorial description of hyperelliptic curves, and to plane quintics are given.Comment: Minor revisions. New numbering matches the journal version. 41 page