Asymptotic directions in the moduli space of curves

In this paper we study asymptotic directions in the tangent bundle of the moduli space ${\mathcal M}_g$ of curves of genus $g$, namely those tangent directions that are annihilated by the second fundamental form of the Torelli map. We give examples of asymptotic directions for any $g \geq 4$. We prove that if the rank $d$ of a tangent direction $\zeta \in H^1(T_C)$ (with respect to the infinitesimal deformation map) is less than the Clifford index of the curve $C$, then $\zeta$ is not asymptotic. If the rank of $\zeta$ is equal to the Clifford index of the curve, we give sufficient conditions ensuring that the infinitesimal deformation $\zeta$ is not asymptotic. Then we determine all asymptotic directions of rank 1 and we give an almost complete description of asymptotic directions of rank 2.