Related papers: Obstructions to choosing distinct points on cubic …

Given two elements of a vector space acted on by a reductive group, we ask whether they lie in the same orbit, and if not, whether one lies in the orbit closure of the other. We develop techniques to optimize the orbit and orbit closure…

Consider the scheme parametrizing non-constant morphisms from a fixed projective curve to a projective surface. There is a rational map between this scheme and the Chow variety of $1$-cycles on the surface. We prove that, if the curve is…

Classification theory and the study of projective varieties which are covered by rational curves of minimal degrees naturally leads to the study of families of singular rational curves. Since families of arbitrarily singular curves are hard…

In this article, we introduce a systematic and uniform construction of non-singular plane curves of odd degrees $n \geq 5$ which violate the local-global principle. Our construction works unconditionally for $n$ divisible by $p^2$ for some…

Given a smooth curve $C/\mathbb{Q}$ with genus $\geq 2$, we know by Faltings' Theorem that $C(\mathbb{Q})$ is finite. Here we ask the reverse question: given a finite set of rational points $S\subseteq \mathbb{P}^n(\mathbb{Q})$, does there…

We propose a simple, geometrically-motivated construction of smooth random paths in the plane. The construction is such that, with probability one, the paths have finite curvature everywhere (and the realizations are visually pleasing when…

In the past 20 years, compactifications of the families of curves in algebraic varieties X have been studied via stable maps, Hilbert schemes, stable pairs, unramified maps, and stable quotients. Each path leads to a different enumeration…

Let $X$ be a real algebraic convex 3-manifold whose real part is equipped with a $Pin^-$ structure. We show that every irreducible real rational curve with non-empty real part has a canonical spinor state belonging to $\{\pm 1\}$. The main…

We prove the following results: (1) For every generic closed smooth curve in $\mathbb{R}^3$ there is a point with at least $6$ emanating normals to the curve. (2) For every generic closed piecewise linear curve in $\mathbb{R}^3$ there is a…

In this paper we prove that, for any $n\ge 3$, there exist infinitely many $r\in \N$ and for each of them a smooth, connected curve $C_r$ in $\P^r$ such that $C_r$ lies on exactly $n$ irreducible components of the Hilbert scheme…

We study the following question: given a set P of 3d-2 points and an immersed curve G in the real plane R^2, all in general position, how many real rational plane curves of degree d pass through these points and are tangent to this curve.…

The motivating problem addressed by this paper is to describe those non-degenerate sets of points $Z$ in $\mathbb P^3$ whose general projection to a general plane is a complete intersection of curves in that plane. One large class of such…

We consider the following problem: Given a set $S$ of $n$ distinct points in the plane, how many edge-disjoint plane straight-line spanning paths can be drawn on $S$? Each spanning path must be crossing-free, but edges from different paths…

We prove that for every smooth projective integral curve $X$ of genus at least $2$ over $\mathbb C$, there exists $x \in X(\mathbb C)$ such that no connected finite \'etale cover of $X-\{x\}$ admits a nonconstant morphism to $\mathbb G_m$.…

We show that the number of unit-area triangles determined by a set $S$ of $n$ points in the plane is $O(n^{20/9})$, improving the earlier bound $O(n^{9/4})$ of Apfelbaum and Sharir [Discrete Comput. Geom., 2010]. We also consider two…

Two approaches for determining Hilbert functions of fat point subschemes of $\mathbb P^2$ are demonstrated. A complete determination of the Hilbert functions which occur for 9 double points is given using the first approach, extending…

We give the first examples of nef line bundles on smooth projective varieties over finite fields which are not semi-ample. More concretely, we find smooth curves on smooth projective surfaces over finite fields such that the normal bundle…

We show that every automorphism of the Hilbert scheme of $n$ points on a weak Fano or general type surface is natural, i.e. induced by an automorphism of the surface, unless the surface is a product of curves and $n=2$. In the exceptional…

Let X be an algebraic curve over Q and t a non-constant Q-rational function on X such that Q(t) is a proper subfield of Q(X). For every integer n pick a point P_n on X such that t(P_n)=n. We conjecture that, for large N, among the number…

A generalized Kummer surface $X$ obtained as the quotient of an abelian surface by a symplectic automorphism of order 3 contains a $9\mathbf{A}_{2}$-configuration of $(-2)$-curves. Such a configuration plays the role of the…