A characterization of secant varieties of Severi varieties among cubic hypersurfaces
Baohua Fu, Yewon Jeong, Fyodor L. Zak
备注:
17 pages. We give a new proof of Theorem 2.9 bypassing the imprecisely stated Lemma 2.12 in the previous version. The validity of the results of the paper is not affected
It is shown that an irreducible cubic hypersurface with nonzero Hessian and smooth singular locus is the secant variety of a Severi variety if and only if its Lie algebra of infinitesimal linear automorphisms admits a nonzero prolongation.
The secant varieties of Severi varieties provide special examples of (singular) cubic hypersurfaces. An interesting question asks when a given cubic hypersurface is projectively equivalent to a secant cubic hypersurface. Inspired by the ''geometric'' Torelli theorem for smooth cubic hypersurfaces due to F. Charles, we study the geometry of lines on secant cubics and describe the Fano variety of lines. Then we verify the ''geometric'' Torelli theorem for the case of secant cubics. Namely, a cubic hypersurface is isomorphic to a secant cubic if and only if their Fano varieties of lines are isomo…
Limiting Hodge Structures for Cubic Hypersurfaces of Secant Type
Mathematical School of Science, Xiamen University(厦门大学数学科学学院);School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences(中国科学院大学数学科学学院)
We relate the geometry of curves to the notion of hyperbolicity in real algebraic geometry. A hyperbolic variety is a real algebraic variety that (in particular) admits a real fibered morphism to a projective space whose dimension is equal to the dimension of the variety. We study hyperbolic varieties with a special interest in the case of hypersurfaces that admit a real algebraic ruling. The central part of the paper is concerned with secant varieties of real algebraic curves where the real locus has the maximal number of connected components, which is determined by the genus of the curve. Fo…
We generalize Zak's theorems on tangencies and on linear normality as well as Zak's definition and classification of Severi varieties. In particular we find sharp lower bounds for the dimension of higher secant varieties of a given variety X under suitable regularity assumption on X, and we classify varieties for which the bound is attained.
A congruence is a surface in the Grassmannian $\mathrm{Gr}(1,\mathbb{P}^3)$ of lines in projective $3$-space. To a space curve $C$, we associate the Chow hypersurface in $\mathrm{Gr}(1,\mathbb{P}^3)$ consisting of all lines which intersect $C$. We compute the singular locus of this hypersurface, which contains the congruence of all secants to $C$. A surface $S$ in $\mathbb{P}^3$ defines the Hurwitz hypersurface in $\mathrm{Gr}(1,\mathbb{P}^3)$ of all lines which are tangent to $S$. We show that its singular locus has two components for general enough $S$: the congruence of bitangents and the c…
Let $X={\bf P}^2\times{\bf P}^{n-1}$ embedded with $Ø(1,2)$. We prove that its $(n+1)$-secant variety $σ_{n+1}(X)$ is a hypersurface, while it is expected that it fills the ambient space. The equation of $σ_{n+1}(X)$ is the symmetric analog of the Strassen equation. When $n=4$ the determinantal map takes $σ_5(X)$ to the hypersurface of Lüroth quartics, which is the image of the Barth map studied by LePotier and Tikhomirov. This hint allows to obtain some results on the jumping lines and the Brill-Noether loci of symplectic bundles on ${\bf P}^2$ by using the higher secant varieties of $X$.
We study the connected component of the automorphism group of a cubic hypersurface over complex numbers. When the cubic hypersurface has nonzero Hessian, this group is usually small. But there are examples with unusually large automorphism groups: the secants of Severi varieties. Can we characterize them by the property of having unusually large automorphism groups? We study this question from the viewpoint of prolongations of the Lie algebras. Our result characterizes the secants of Severi varieties, among cubic hypersurfaces with nonzero Hessian and smooth singular locus, in terms of prolong…
Given the space $V={\mathbb P}^{\binom{d+n-1}{n-1}-1}$ of forms of degree $d$ in $n$ variables, and given an integer $\ell>1$ and a partition $λ$ of $d=d_1+\cdots+d_r$, it is in general an open problem to obtain the dimensions of the $\ell$-secant varieties $σ_\ell ({\mathbb X}_{n-1,λ})$ for the subvariety ${\mathbb X}_{n-1,λ} \subset V$ of hypersurfaces whose defining forms have a factorization into forms of degrees $d_1,\ldots,d_r$. Modifying a method from intersection theory, we relate this problem to the study of the Weak Lefschetz Property for a class of graded algebras, based on which we…
In many cases (e.g. for many Segre or Segre embeddings of multiprojective spaces) we prove that a hypersurface of the $b$-secant variety of $X\subset \mathbb {P}^r$ has $X$-rank $>b$. We prove it proving that the $X$-rank of a general point of the join of $b-2$ copies of $X$ and the tangential variety of $X$ is $>b$.
In this paper we extend the well known theorem of Angelo Lopez concerning the Picard group of the general space projective surface containing a given smooth projective curve, to the intermediate Néron-Severi group of a general hypersurface in any smooth projective variety.
Using a part of XJC-correspondence by Pirio and Russo, we classify cubic forms $f$ whose Hessian matrices induce matrix factorizations of themselves. When it defines a reduced hypersurface, it satisfies the "secant-singularity" correspondence, that is, it coincides with the secant locus of its singular locus. In particular, when $f$ is irreducible, its singular locus is either one of four Severi varieties.
We show that if a cubic hypersurface with positive dual defect over the complex number field is not a cone, then either the hypersurface coincides with the secant variety of the singular locus, or the hypersurface contains a linear subvariety of dimension greater than the dual defect such that the intersection of the singular locus and a general contact locus is contained in the linear subvariety.
Each Scorza variety and its secant varieties in the ambient projective space are identified, in the realm of singular Poisson-Kaehler geometry, in terms of projectivizations of holomorphic nilpotent orbits in suitable Lie algebras of hermitian type, the holomorphic nilpotent orbits, in turn, being affine varieties. The ambient projective space acquires an exotic Kaehler structure, the closed stratum being the Scorza variety and the closures of the higher strata its secant varieties. In this fashion, the secant varieties become exotic projective varieties. In the rank 3 case, the four regular S…
Let $Z$ be a closed subscheme of a smooth complex projective complete intersection variety $Y\subseteq \Ps^N$, with $dim Y=2r+1\geq 3$. We describe the Néron-Severi group $NS_r(X)$ of a general smooth hypersurface $X\subset Y$ of sufficiently large degree containing $Z$.
We consider projective varieties with degenerate Gauss image whose focal hypersurfaces are non-reduced schemes. Examples of this situation are provided by the secant varieties of Severi and Scorza varieties. The Severi varieties are moreover characterized by a uniqueness property.
For a projective variety $Z$ and for any integer $p$, define the $p$-th Néron-Severi group $NS_p(Z)$ of $Z$ as the image of the cycle map $A_{p}(Z)\to H_{2p}(Z; \mathbb{C})$. Now let $X\subset \Ps^{2m+1}$ ($m\geq 1$) be a projective variety of dimension $2m-1$, with isolated singularities, complete intersection of a smooth hypersurface of degree $k$, with a hypersurface of degree $n>max\{k, 2m+1\}$, and let $F$ be a general hypersurface of degree $n$ containing $X$. We prove that the natural map $NS_m(X)\to NS_m(F)$ is surjective, and that if $dim NS_m(F)=1$ then $dim NS_m(X)=1$. In particular…
We study transformations as in the title with emphasis on those having smooth connected base locus, called "special". In particular, we classify all special quadratic birational maps into a quadric hypersurface whose inverse is given by quadratic forms by showing that there are only four examples having general hyperplane sections of Severi varieties as base loci.
R. Hartshorne conjectured and F. Zak proved that any n-dimensional smooth non-degenerate complex algebraic variety X in a m-dimensional projective space P satisfies Sec(X)=P if m<3n/2+2. In this article, I deal with the limiting case of this theorem, namely the Severi varieties, defined by the conditions m=3n/2+2 and Sec(X) different from P. I want to give a different proof of a theorem of F. Zak classifying all Severi varieties: I will prove that any Severi variety is homogeneous and then deduce their classification and the following geometric property : the derivatives of the equation of Sec…
Let $X^{2n}\subseteq \mathbb{P} ^N$ be a smooth projective variety. Consider the intersection cohomology complex of the local system $R^{2n-1}π{_*}\mathbb{Q}$, where $π$ denotes the projection from the universal hyperplane family of $X^{2n}$ to ${(\mathbb{P} ^N)}^{\vee}$. We investigate the cohomology of the intersection cohomology complex $IC(R^{2n-1}π{_*}\mathbb{Q})$ over the points of a Severi's variety, parametrizing nodal hypersurfaces, whose nodes impose independent conditions on the very ample linear system giving the embedding in $\mathbb{P} ^N$.
In this paper we give two explicit relations among 1-cycles modulo rational equivalence on a smooth cubic hypersurfaces $X$. Such a relation is given in terms of a (pair of) curve(s) and its secant lines. As the first application, we reprove Paranjape's theorem that $\mathrm{CH}_1(X)$ is always generated by lines and that it is isomorphic to $\Z$ if the dimension of $X$ is at least 5. Another application is to the intermediate jacobian of a cubic threefold $X$. To be more precise, we show that the intermediate jacobian of $X$ is naturally isomorphic to the Prym-Tjurin variety constructed from …
We study the local differential geometry of varieties $X^n\subset \Bbb C\Bbb P^{n+a}$ with degenerate secant and tangential varieties. We show that the second fundamental form of a smooth variety with degenerate tangential variety is subject to certain rank restrictions. The rank restrictions imply a slightly refined version of Zak's theorem on linear normality and a short proof of the Zak-Fantecchi theorem on the superadditivity of multisecant defects. We show there is a vector bundle defined over general points of $TX$ whose fibers carry the structure of a Clifford algebra. This structure im…
In 1901, Severi proved that if $Z$ is an irreducible hypersurface in $\mathbb{P}^4(\mathbb{C})$ that contains a three dimensional set of lines, then $Z$ is either a quadratic hypersurface or a scroll of planes. We prove a discretized version of this result for hypersurfaces in $\mathbb{R}^4$. As an application, we prove that at most $δ^{-2-\varepsilon}$ direction-separated $δ$-tubes can be contained in the $δ$-neighborhood of a low-degree hypersurface in $\mathbb{R}^4$. This result leads to improved bounds on the restriction and Kakeya problems in $\mathbb{R}^4$. Combined with previous work of…
The number of apparent double points of a smooth, irreducible projective variety $X$ of dimension $n$ in $\Proj^{2n+1}$ is the number of secant lines to $X$ passing through the general point of $\Proj^{2n+1}$. This classical notion dates back to Severi. In the present paper we classify smooth varieties of dimension at most three having one apparent double point. The techniques developed for this purpose allow to treat a wider class of projective varieties.
Let $X$ be a smooth cubic hypersurface of dimension $n \ge 1$ over the rationals. It is well-known that new rational points may be obtained from old ones by secant and tangent constructions. In view of the Mordell--Weil theorem for $n=1$, Manin (1968) asked if there exists a finite set $S$ from which all other rational points can be thus obtained. We give an affirmative answer for $n \ge 48$, showing in fact that we can take the generating set $S$ to consist of just one point. Our proof makes use of a weak approximation theorem due to Skinner, a theorem of Browning, Dietmann and Heath-Brown on…
This article studies the relationship between tropical Severi varieties and secondary fans. In the case when tropical Severi varieties are hypersurfaces this relationship is very well known; specifically, in this case, a tropical Severi variety of codimension 1 is a subfan of the corresponding secondary fan. It was expected for some time that this continues to hold more generally, but Katz found a counterexample in codimension 2, showing that this relationship is more subtle. The two main results in this paper are as follows. The first theorem finds a simple condition under which a tropical Se…
Special birational transformations $Φ:\p^r\da Z$ defined by quadric hypersurfaces are studied by means of the variety of lines $\mathcal L_z\subset\p^{r-1}$ passing through a general point $z\in Z$. Classification results are obtained when $Z$ is either a Grassmannian of lines, or the 10-dimensional spinor variety, or the $E_6$-variety. In the particular case of quadro-quadric transformations, we extend the well-known classification of Ein and Shepherd-Barron coming from Zak's classification of Severi varieties to a wider class of prime Fano manifolds $Z$. Combining both results, we get a clas…
Let $Z$ be a closed subscheme of a smooth complex projective variety $Y\subseteq \Ps^N$, with $\dim\,Y=2r+1\geq 3$. We describe the intermediate Néron-Severi group (i.e. the image of the cycle map $A_r(X)\to H_{2r}(X;\mathbb{Z})$) of a general smooth hypersurface $X\subset Y$ of sufficiently large degree containing $Z$.
An embedded manifold is dual defective if its dual variety is not a hypersurface. Using the geometry of the variety of lines through a general point, we characterize scrolls among dual defective manifolds. This leads to an optimal bound for the dual defect, which improves results due to Ein. Among other things we also provide a short and easy proof of the famous Landman Parity Theorem for dual defective manifolds based on our approach to the subject. We also discuss our conjecture that every dual defective manifold with cyclic Picard group should be secant defective, of a very special type, na…
Varieties of Nodal surfaces, coding theory and Discriminants of cubic hypersurfaces. Part 1: Generalities and nodal K3 surfaces. Part 2: Cubic Hypersurfaces, associated discriminants. Part 3: Nodal quintics. Part 4: Nodal sextics
We construct explicit examples of elementary extremal contractions, both birational and of fiber type, from smooth projective n-dimensional varieties, n\geq 4, onto smooth projective varieties, arising from classical projective geometry and defined over sufficiently small fields, not necessarily algebraically closed. The examples considered come from particular special homaloidal and subhomaloidal linear systems, which usually are degenerations of general phenomena classically investigated by Bordiga, Severi, Todd, Room, Fano, Semple and Tyrrell and more recently by Ein and Shepherd-Barron. Th…