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# Deforming curves in jacobians to non-jacobians I: curves in 𝐶⁽²⁾

## Introduction

Jacobians of curves are the best understood abelian varieties. There are many geometric ways of constructing curves in jacobians whereas it is difficult to construct interesting curves in most other abelian varieties. In this paper and its sequels we introduce methods for determining whether a given curve in a jacobian deforms with it when the jacobian deforms to a non-jacobian. We apply these methods to a particular class of curves in a jacobian (see below). One of our motivations is the Hodge-theoretic question of which multiples of the minimal cohomology class on a given principally polarized abelian variety can be represented by an algebraic curve (see  for other motivations). In the known examples, the construction of such curves often also leads to parametrizations of the theta divisor. Let us begin by summarizing some of what is known about this question.

For a principally polarized abelian variety (ppav) $`(A,\mathrm{\Theta })`$ of dimension $`g`$ over $``$, let $`[\mathrm{\Theta }]H^2(A,)`$ be the cohomology class of $`\mathrm{\Theta }`$. The class $`\frac{[\mathrm{\Theta }]^{g1}}{(g1)!}`$ is called the minimal cohomology class for curves in $`(A,\mathrm{\Theta })`$. We will assume $`g4`$, since otherwise all multiples of the minimal class are represented by algebraic curves.

If $`(A,\mathrm{\Theta })=(JC:=Pic^0C,\mathrm{\Theta })`$ is the jacobian of a smooth, complete and irreducible curve $`C`$ of genus $`g`$, the choice of any invertible sheaf $``$ of degree $`1`$ on $`C`$ gives an embedding of $`C`$ in $`JC`$ via

$$\begin{array}{ccc}\hfill C& & JC\hfill \\ \hfill p& & 𝒪_C(p)^1.\hfill \end{array}$$

Such a map is called an Abel map and the image of $`C`$ by it an Abel curve. The cohomology class of an Abel curve is the minimal class $`\frac{\mathrm{\Theta }^{g1}}{(g1)!}`$. By a theorem of Matsusaka , the minimal class is represented by an algebraic curve $`C`$ in $`(A,\mathrm{\Theta })`$ if and only if $`(A,\mathrm{\Theta })`$ is the polarized jacobian $`(JC,\mathrm{\Theta })`$ of $`C`$. The sum of $`g1`$ Abel curves in $`JC`$ is a theta divisor.

In Prym varieties even multiples of the minimal class are represented by algebraic curves:

For an étale double cover $`\pi :\stackrel{~}{C}C`$ of smooth curves ($`C`$ of genus $`g+1`$), the involution $`\sigma :\stackrel{~}{C}\stackrel{~}{C}`$ of the cover acts on the jacobian $`J\stackrel{~}{C}`$ and the Prym variety $`P`$ of $`\pi `$ is defined as

$$P:=im(\sigma 1)J\stackrel{~}{C}.$$

The intersection of a symmetric theta divisor of $`J\stackrel{~}{C}`$ with $`P`$ is $`2\mathrm{\Xi }`$ where the divisor $`\mathrm{\Xi }`$ defines a principal polarization on $`P`$. Via $`\sigma 1`$, the image of an Abel embedding of $`\stackrel{~}{C}`$ in $`P`$ gives an embedding of $`\stackrel{~}{C}`$ in $`P`$ and its image is called a Prym-embedded curve. The class of a Prym-embedded curve is $`2\frac{[\mathrm{\Xi }]^{g1}}{(g1)!}`$. An interesting question is when, in a Prym variety, are any odd multiples of the minimal class represented by algebraic curves.

A further generalization is the notion of Prym-Tjurin variety:

Suppose there is a generically injective map from a smooth complete curve $`X`$ into a ppav $`P`$ with theta divisor $`\mathrm{\Xi }`$ such that the class of the image of $`X`$ is $`m\frac{[\mathrm{\Xi }]^{g1}}{(g1)!}`$. This yields a map $`JXP`$ with transpose $`PJX`$. We say $`(P,\mathrm{\Xi })`$ is a Prym-Tjurin variety for $`X`$ if the map $`PJX`$ is injective. This is equivalent to the existence of an endomorphism $`\varphi :JXJX`$ such that

$$P=P(X,\varphi ):=im(\varphi 1)JX\text{and}(\varphi 1)(\varphi 1+m)=0$$

where the numbers denote the endomorphisms of $`JX`$ given by multiplication by those numbers.

Welters showed that every principally polarized abelian variety is a Prym-Tjurin variety. Birkenhacke and Lange showed that every principally polarized abelian variety is a Prym-Tjurin variety for an integer $`m3^g(g1)!`$ (see  page 374 Corollary 2.4)111Their proof uses $`3`$-theta divisors. Using the fact that a general $`2`$-theta divisor is smooth, the exact same proof would give $`m2^g(g1)!`$. For abelian varieties with a smooth theta divisor, the same proof would give $`m(g1)!`$..

The set of integers $`n`$ such that $`n\frac{[\mathrm{\Theta }]^{g1}}{(g1)!}`$ is represented by an algebraic curve (union $`\{0\}`$) is a semi-subgroup of $``$. There is therefore a unique minimal set of positive integers $`\{m_0^A<\mathrm{}<m_{r_A}^A\}`$ such that $`n\frac{[\mathrm{\Theta }]^{g1}}{(g1)!}`$ is represented by an algebraic curve if and only if either $`n=m_i^A`$ for some $`i`$ or $`n>m_{r_A}^A`$ is a multiple of $`d_A`$ where $`d_A`$ is the gcd of the $`m_i^A`$. These various integers can be used to define stratifications of the moduli space $`𝒜_g`$ of ppav. The stratification associated to $`m_0^A`$ is related to a stratification of $`𝒜_g`$ by other geometric invariants as discussed by Beauville  and Debarre . Debarre proved in  that $`m_0^A`$ is at least $`\sqrt{\frac{g}{8}}\frac{1}{4}`$ if $`(A,\mathrm{\Theta })`$ is general.

In this paper and the next we use first order obstructions to deformations to identify certain families of curves which could potentially deform to non-jacobians. Our method can be applied to subvarieties $`X`$ of $`JC`$ contained in many translates of the theta divisor. For an integer $`e2`$ let $`C^{(e)}`$ be the $`e`$-th symmetric power of $`C`$. Choose $`aPic^{g1}C`$ and define $`\rho `$ as the map

$$\begin{array}{cccc}\hfill \rho :& C^{(g1)}& & JC\hfill \\ & D& & 𝒪_C(D)a^1\hfill \end{array}$$

whose image is a theta divisor, say $`\mathrm{\Theta }_a`$. The idea is to use Green’s sequence  (see Section 3)

$$0T_{C^{(g1)}}\rho ^{}T_{JC}_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta }_a)0$$

where $`Z_{g1}`$ is the locus where $`\rho `$ fails to be an embedding, the letter $`T`$ denotes tangent sheaves and the letter $``$ ideal sheaves. Given an infinitesimal deformation $`\eta H^1(T_{JC})`$, the curve $`X`$ deforms with $`JC`$ in the direction of $`\eta `$ if and only if the image of $`\eta `$ by the first order obstruction map

$$\nu :H^1(T_{JC})H^1(N_{X/JC})$$

where $`N_{X/JC}`$ is the normal sheaf to $`X`$ in $`JC`$, is zero (see Section 2). As we shall see in Section 3, the map

$$H^1(T_{JC})H^1(_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta }_a)|_X)$$

factors through $`\nu `$. It follows that if, for some $`a`$, the image of $`\eta `$ in $`H^1(_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta }_a)|_X)`$ does not vanish, then $`\nu (\eta )`$ does not vanish either. For the examples that we have chosen (see below) we prove the stronger statement that the image of $`\eta `$ by the map

$$H^1(T_{JC})H^1(_{Z_{g1}X}(\mathrm{\Theta }_a))$$

is not zero. This map factors into the composition (see Section 3)

$$H^1(T_{JC})H^0(𝒪_{Z_{g1}X}(\mathrm{\Theta }))H^1(_{Z_{g1}X}(\mathrm{\Theta }_a)).$$

We analyze these two maps separately in Sections 4 and 5. Section 6 (the Appendix) contains some useful technical results.

The curves that we have chosen for the illustration of the above method are the natural generalizations of smooth Prym-embedded curves in tetragonal jacobians. More precisely, let $`C`$ be a curve of genus $`g`$ with a $`g_d^1`$ (a pencil of degree $`d`$). We define curves $`X_e(g_d^1)`$ whose reduced support is

$$X_e(g_d^1)_{red}:=\{D_e:DC^{(de)}\text{ such that }D_e+Dg_d^1\}C^{(e)}$$

(for the precise scheme-theoretical definition see 2.1 when $`e=2`$ and  for $`e>2`$). If $`de+1`$, then $`X_e(g_d^1)`$ can be non-trivially mapped to $`JC`$ by subtracting a fixed divisor of degree $`e`$ on $`C`$. Given a one-parameter infinitesimal deformation of the jacobian of $`C`$ out of the jacobian locus $`𝒥_g`$ we ask when the curve $`X_e(g_d^1)`$ deforms with it. In this paper we prove the following

###### Theorem 0.1.

Suppose $`C`$ non-hyperelliptic and $`d4`$. Suppose that the curve $`X:=X_2(g_d^1)`$ deforms in a direction $`\eta `$ out of $`𝒥_g`$. Then

1. either $`d=4`$
2. or $`d=5`$, $`h^0(g_5^1)=3`$, $`C`$ has genus $`4`$, $`L`$ is base-point-free, the curve $`C`$ has only one $`g_3^1`$ with a triple ramification point $`t`$ such that $`5tL|Kt|`$ and $`X_2(g_3^1)`$ meets $`X`$ only at $`2t`$ with intersection multiplicity $`4`$.

For $`d=3`$ the image of $`X_2(g_3^1)`$ in $`JC`$ is an Abel curve, hence cannot deform out of $`𝒥_g`$ . For $`d=4`$, the curve $`X_2(g_4^1)`$ is a Prym-embedded curve , hence deforms out of $`𝒥_g`$ into the locus of Prym varieties. For $`d=5`$, $`h^0(g_d^1)=3`$ and $`g=4`$ (with only one $`g_3^1`$) or $`g=5`$ it is likely that $`X_2(g_5^1)`$ deforms out of $`𝒥_g`$. An interesting question is to describe, as geometrically as possible, the deformations of $`(JC,\mathrm{\Theta })`$ with which $`X_2(g_5^1)`$ deforms.

For $`e>2`$, the analogous result would be the following. The curve $`X_e(g_d^1)`$ deforms out of $`𝒥_g`$ only if

* either $`e=h^0(g_d^1)`$ and $`d=2e`$
* or $`e=h^0(g_d^1)1`$ and $`d=2e+1`$.

We prove this in  for $`eg3`$ under certain hypotheses of genericity. This shortens the list of the families of curves whose deformations we need to consider. For more details see .

So we have some families of curves which could possibly deform to non-jacobians. We need a different approach to prove that higher order obstructions to deformations vanish: this will be presented in detail in the forth-coming paper  and the idea behind it is the following. For each $`\mathrm{\Theta }_a`$ containing $`X`$, one has the map of cohomology groups of normal sheaves

$$H^1(N_{X/JC})H^1(N_{\mathrm{\Theta }_a/JC}|_X)=H^1(𝒪_X(\mathrm{\Theta }_a))$$

whose kernel contains all the obstructions to the deformations of $`X`$ since we will only consider algebraizable deformations of $`JC`$ for which the obstructions to deforming $`\mathrm{\Theta }_a`$ vanish. If one can prove that the intersection of these kernels is the image of the first order algebraizable deformations of $`JC`$, i.e., the image of $`S^2H^1(𝒪_C)H^1(T_{JC})`$, it will follow that the only obstructions to deforming $`X`$ with $`JC`$ are the first order obstructions.

Finally, we would like to mention that from curves one can obtain higher-dimensional subvarieties of an abelian variety. For a discussion of this we refer the reader to .

## 1. Notation and Conventions

We will denote linear equivalence of divisors by $``$.

For any divisor or coherent sheaf $`D`$ on a scheme $`X`$, denote by $`h^i(D)`$ the dimension of the cohomology group $`H^i(D)=H^i(X,D)`$. For any subscheme $`Y`$ of $`X`$, we will denote $`_{Y/X}`$ the ideal sheaf of $`Y`$ in $`X`$ and $`N_{Y/X}`$ the normal sheaf of $`Y`$ in $`X`$. When there is no ambiguity we drop the subscript X from $`_{Y/X}`$ or $`N_{Y/X}`$. The tangent sheaf of $`X`$ will be denoted by $`T_X:=om(\mathrm{\Omega }_X^1,𝒪_X)`$ and the dualizing sheaf of $`X`$ by $`\omega _X`$.

We let $`C`$ be a smooth non-hyperelliptic curve of genus $`g`$ over the field $``$ of complex numbers. For any positive integer $`n`$, denote by $`C^n`$ the $`n`$-th Cartesian power of $`C`$ and by $`C^{(n)}`$ the $`n`$-th symmetric power of $`C`$. We denote $`\pi _n:C^nC^{(n)}`$ the natural quotient map. Note that $`C^{(n)}`$ parametrizes the effective divisors of degree $`n`$ on $`C`$.

We denote by $`K`$ an arbitrary canonical divisor on $`C`$. Since $`C`$ is not hyperelliptic, its canonical map $`C|K|^{}`$ is an embedding and throughout this paper we identify $`C`$ with its canonical image. For a divisor $`D`$ on $`C`$, we denote by $`D`$ its span in $`|K|^{}`$.

Since we will mostly work with the Picard group $`Pic^{g1}C`$ of invertible sheaves of degree $`g1`$ on $`C`$, we put $`A:=Pic^{g1}C`$. Let $`\mathrm{\Theta }`$ denote the natural theta divisor of $`A`$, i.e.,

$$\mathrm{\Theta }:=\{A:h^0()>0\}.$$

The multiplicity of $`\mathrm{\Theta }`$ in $`\mathrm{\Theta }`$ is $`h^0()`$ ( Chapter VI p. 226). So the singular locus of $`\mathrm{\Theta }`$ is

$$Sing(\mathrm{\Theta }):=\{A:h^0()2\}.$$

There is a map

$$\begin{array}{ccc}\hfill Sing_2(\mathrm{\Theta })& & |I_2(C)|\hfill \\ \hfill & & Q():=_{D||}D\hfill \end{array}$$

where $`Sing_2(\mathrm{\Theta })`$ is the locus of points of order $`2`$ on $`\mathrm{\Theta }`$ and $`|I_2(C)|`$ is the linear system of quadrics containing the canonical curve $`C`$. This map is equal to the map sending $``$ to the (quadric) tangent cone to $`\mathrm{\Theta }`$ at $``$ and its image $`𝒬`$ generates $`|I_2(C)|`$ (see  and ). Any $`Q()𝒬`$ has rank $`4`$. The singular locus of $`Q()`$ cuts $`C`$ in the sum of the base divisors of $`||`$ and $`|\omega _C^1|`$. The rulings of $`Q`$ cut the divisors of the moving parts of $`||`$ and $`|\omega _C^1|`$ on $`C`$ (see ).

For any divisor or invertible sheaf $`a`$ of degree $`0`$ and any subscheme $`Y`$ of $`A`$, we let $`Y_a`$ denote the translate of $`Y`$ by $`a`$. By a $`g_d^r`$ we mean a (not necessarily complete) linear system of degree $`d`$ and dimension $`r`$. We call $`W_d^r`$ the subvariety of $`Pic^dC`$ parametrizing invertible sheaves $``$ with $`h^0()>r`$.

For any effective divisor $`E`$ of degree $`e`$ on $`C`$ and any positive integer $`ne`$, let $`C_E^{(ne)}C^{(n)}`$ be the image of $`C^{(ne)}`$ in $`C^{(n)}`$ by the morphism $`DD+E`$. Write $`C_t:=C_t^{(1)}`$, and for any divisor $`E=_{i=1}^rn_it_i`$ on $`C`$, let $`C_E`$ denote the divisor $`_{i=1}^rn_iC_{t_i}`$ on $`C^{(2)}`$. For a linear system $`L`$ on $`C`$, we denote by $`C_L`$ any divisor $`C_EC^{(2)}`$ with $`EL`$. We let $`\delta `$ denote the divisor class on $`C^{(2)}`$ such that $`\pi _2^{}\delta \mathrm{\Delta }`$ where $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is the diagonal of $`C^2`$.

By infinitesimal deformation we always mean flat first order infinitesimal deformation.

## 2. The curve $`X`$ and the first order obstruction map for its deformations

### 2.1.

Let $`L`$ be a pencil of degree $`d4`$ on $`C`$. Let $`M`$ be the moving part of $`L`$ and let $`B`$ be its base divisor. Define the curve $`X:=X_2(L)`$ as a divisor on $`C^{(2)}`$ in the following way

$$X=X_2(L):=X_M+C_BC^{(2)}$$

where $`X_M:=X_2(M)`$ is the reduced curve

$$X_M=X_2(M):=\{D_2:DC^{(d2)}\text{ such that }D_2+DM\}.$$

###### Lemma 2.1.

We have

$$XC_L\delta $$

and $`X`$ has arithmetic genus

$$g_X=\frac{(d2)(2g+d3)}{2}.$$

###### Proof.

Pull back to $`C^2`$, restrict to the fibers of the two projections and use the See-Saw Theorem. For the arithmetic genus use the exact sequence

$$0𝒪_{C^{(2)}}(X)𝒪_{C^{(2)}}𝒪_X0$$

and the results of Appendix 6.1. ∎

### 2.2.

Choose $`g3`$ general points $`p_1,\mathrm{},p_{g3}`$ in $`C`$ and embed $`C^{(2)}`$ in $`C^{(g1)}`$ and $`A`$ by the respective morphisms

$$\begin{array}{cccccccc}C^{(2)}\hfill & \hfill & C^{(g1)}\hfill & & & C^{(2)}\hfill & \hfill & A\hfill \\ D_2\hfill & \hfill & D_2+_{i=1}^{g3}p_i\hfill & & & D_2\hfill & \hfill & 𝒪_C(D_2+_{i=1}^{g3}p_i).\hfill \end{array}$$

Identify $`X`$ and $`C^{(2)}`$ with their images by these maps.

Recall the usual exact sequence

$$_{X/A}/_{X/A}^2\mathrm{\Omega }_A^1|_X\mathrm{\Omega }_X^10.$$

The curve $`X`$ is a local complete intersection scheme because it is a divisor in $`C^{(2)}`$. Using this, local calculations show that the above sequence can be completed to the exact sequence

$$0_{X_{red}/X}_{X/A}/_{X/A}^2_{X/A}/_{X/A}^2\mathrm{\Omega }_A^1|_X\mathrm{\Omega }_X^10$$

where $`X_{red}`$ is the underlying reduced scheme of $`X`$. This sequence can then be split into the following two short exact sequences.

(2.1)
$$0_{X_{red}/X}_{X/A}/_{X/A}^2_{X/A}/_{X/A}^2_{X/A}/_{X/A}^2|_{X_{red}}0$$

$$0_{X/A}/_{X/A}^2|_{X_{red}}\mathrm{\Omega }_A^1|_X\mathrm{\Omega }_X^10$$

from which we obtain the maps of exterior groups

$$Ext^1(_{X/A}/_{X/A}^2|_{X_{red}},𝒪_X)H^1(N_{X/A})$$

$$H^1(T_A|_X)Ext^1(_{X/A}/_{X/A}^2|_{X_{red}},𝒪_X).$$

The composition of the above two maps with restriction

$$H^1(T_A)H^1(T_A|_X)$$

is the obstruction map

$$\nu :H^1(T_A)H^1(N_{X/A}).$$

Given an infinitesimal deformation $`\eta H^1(T_A)`$, the curve $`X`$ deforms with $`A`$ in the direction of $`\eta `$ if and only if $`\nu (\eta )=0`$ (see e.g.  Chapter 1 and  for these deformation theory results).

### 2.3.

Using the fact that $`X`$ is a divisor in $`C^{(2)}`$, a local calculation shows that we have the usual exact sequence

$$0_{C^{(2)}/A}/_{C^{(2)}/A}^2|_X_{X/A}/_{X/A}^2_{X/C^{(2)}}/_{X/C^{(2)}}^20$$

whose dual is the exact sequence

$$0N_{X/C^{(2)}}N_{X/A}N_{C^{(2)}/A}|_X0.$$

From this we obtain the map

$$H^1(N_{X/A})H^1(N_{C^{(2)}/A}|_X)$$

whose composition with $`\nu `$ we call $`\nu _2`$:

$$\nu _2:H^1(T_A)H^1(N_{C^{(2)}/A}|_X).$$

So, if $`\nu (\eta )=0`$, then, a fortiori, $`\nu _2(\eta )=0`$.

### 2.4.

The choice of the polarization $`\mathrm{\Theta }`$ provides an isomorphism $`H^1(T_A)H^1(𝒪_C)^2`$ by which the algebraic (i.e. globally unobstructed) infinitesimal deformations with which $`\mathrm{\Theta }`$ deforms are identified with the elements of the subspace $`S^2H^1(𝒪_C)H^1(𝒪_C)^2H^1(T_A)`$. Via this identification, the space of infinitesimal deformations of $`(A,\mathrm{\Theta })`$ as a jacobian is naturally identified with $`H^1(T_C)S^2H^1(𝒪_C)`$. The Serre dual of this last map is multiplication of sections

$$S^2H^0(K)H^0(2K)$$

whose kernel is the space $`I_2(C)`$ of quadrics containing the canonical image of $`C`$. Therefore, to say that we consider an infinitesimal deformation of $`(A,\mathrm{\Theta })`$ out of the jacobian locus, means that we consider $`\eta S^2H^1(𝒪_C)H^1(T_C)`$ which is equivalent to say that we consider $`\eta S^2H^1(𝒪_C)`$ such that there is a quadric $`QI_2(C)`$ with $`(Q,\eta )0`$. Here we denote by

$$(,):S^2H^0(K)S^2H^1(𝒪_C)S^2H^1(K)$$

the pairing obtained from Serre Duality.

We fix such an infinitesimal deformation $`\eta `$ and prove that if $`\nu _2(\eta )=0`$, then $`d=4`$ or $`d=5`$ and $`h^0(L)=3`$. For this we use translates of $`\mathrm{\Theta }`$ containing $`C^{(2)}`$ and, a fortiori, $`X`$.

## 3. The translates of $`\mathrm{\Theta }`$ containing $`C^{(2)}X`$ and the first order obstruction map

###### Lemma 3.1.

The surface $`C^{(2)}`$ is contained in a translate $`\mathrm{\Theta }_a`$ of $`\mathrm{\Theta }`$ if and only if there exists $`q_iC^{(g3)}`$ such that $`a=p_iq_i`$.

###### Proof.

For any points $`q_1,\mathrm{},q_{g3}`$ of $`C`$, the image of $`C^{(2)}`$ in $`A`$ is contained in the divisor $`\mathrm{\Theta }_{{\scriptscriptstyle p_i}{\scriptscriptstyle q_i}}`$. Conversely, if $`C^{(2)}`$ is contained in a translate $`\mathrm{\Theta }_a`$ of $`\mathrm{\Theta }`$, then we have $`h^0(D_2+p_ia)>0`$, for all $`D_2C^{(2)}`$. Equivalently, for all $`D_2C^{(2)}`$, we have $`h^0(K+ap_iD_2)>0`$, i.e., $`h^0(K+ap_i)3`$ and $`a+p_i`$ is effective. ∎

### 3.1.

Choose $`𝒪_C(a)Pic^0C`$ such that $`C^{(2)}\mathrm{\Theta }_a`$ (i.e., $`a=p_iq_i`$ as above). Then $`C_a^{(2)}\mathrm{\Theta }`$. Let $`\rho :C^{(g1)}\mathrm{\Theta }`$ be the natural morphism. Then (see  (1.20) p. 89) we have the exact sequence

(3.1)
$$0T_{C^{(g1)}}\rho ^{}T_A_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta })0$$

where the leftmost map is the differential of $`\rho `$ and $`Z_{g1}`$ is the subscheme of $`C^{(g1)}`$ where $`\rho `$ fails to be an isomorphism. For the convenience of the reader we mention that the scheme $`Z_{g1}`$ is a determinantal scheme of codimension $`2`$. If $`g5`$ or if $`g=4`$ and $`C`$ has two distinct $`g_3^1`$’s, the scheme $`Z_{g1}`$ is reduced and is the scheme-theoretical inverse image of the singular locus of $`\mathrm{\Theta }`$.

Combining sequence (3.1) with the tangent bundles sequences for $`C_a^{(2)}`$, we obtain the commutative diagram with exact rows and columns

$$\begin{array}{ccccccccc}& & 0& & 0& & & & \\ & & & & & & & & \\ & & T_{C_a^{(2)}}& =& T_{C_a^{(2)}}& & & & \\ & & & & & & & & \\ & & T_{C^{(g1)}}|_{C_a^{(2)}}& & T_A|_{C_a^{(2)}}& & _{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta })|_{C_a^{(2)}}& & 0\\ & & & & & & ||& & \\ & & N_{C_a^{(2)}/C^{(g1)}}& & N_{C_a^{(2)}/A}& & _{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta })|_{C_a^{(2)}}& & 0\\ & & & & & & & & \\ & & 0& & 0& & & & \end{array}$$

where the leftmost horizontal maps are injective if and only if $`h^0(q_i)=1`$. The restriction of this to $`X_a`$ gives the commutative diagram with exact rows and columns

$$\begin{array}{ccccccc}T_{C_a^{(2)}}|_{X_a}& =& T_{C_a^{(2)}}|_{X_a}& & & & \\ & & & & & & \\ T_{C^{(g1)}}|_{X_a}& & T_A|_{X_a}& & _{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta })|_{X_a}& & 0\\ & & & & ||& & \\ N_{C_a^{(2)}/C^{(g1)}}|_{X_a}& & N_{C_a^{(2)}/A}|_{X_a}& & _{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta })|_{X_a}& & 0\\ & & & & & & \\ 0& & 0& & & & \end{array}$$

whose cohomology gives the commutative diagram with exact rows and columns

$$\begin{array}{ccccccc}H^1(T_{C_a^{(2)}}|_{X_a})& =& H^1(T_{C_a^{(2)}}|_{X_a})& & & & \\ & & & & & & \\ H^1(T_{C^{(g1)}}|_{X_a})& & H^1(T_A|_{X_a})& & H^1(_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta })|_{X_a})& & 0\\ & & & & ||& & \\ H^1(N_{C_a^{(2)}/C^{(g1)}}|_{X_a})& & H^1(N_{C_a^{(2)}/A}|_{X_a})& & H^1(_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta })|_{X_a})& & 0\\ & & & & & & \\ 0& & 0& & & & .\end{array}$$

Therefore we have the commutative diagram

$$\begin{array}{ccccc}H^1(T_A)& & H^1(T_A|_{X_a})& & H^1(_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta })|_{X_a})\\ & & & & ||\\ S^2H^1(𝒪_C)& & H^1(N_{C_a^{(2)}/A}|_{X_a})& & H^1(_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta })|_{X_a}).\end{array}$$

Translation by $`a`$ induces the identity on $`H^1(T_A)`$ and isomorphisms

$$H^1(T_A|_{X_a})H^1(T_A|_X)H^1(N_{C_a^{(2)}/A}|_{X_a})H^1(N_{C^{(2)}/A}|_X)$$

so that the kernel of

$$\nu _2:S^2H^1(𝒪_C)H^1(N_{C^{(2)}/A}|_X)$$

is equal to the kernel of the map

$$S^2H^1(𝒪_C)H^1(N_{C_a^{(2)}/A}|_{X_a})$$

obtained from $`\nu _2`$ by translation. Therefore the previous diagram proves the following theorem.

###### Theorem 3.2.

The kernel of the map

$$\nu _2:S^2H^1(𝒪_C)H^1(N_{C^{(2)}/A}|_X)$$

is contained in the kernel of the map obtained from the above

$$S^2H^1(𝒪_C)H^1(_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta })|_{X_a})$$

for all $`a`$ such that $`\mathrm{\Theta }_a`$ contains $`C^{(2)}`$.

### 3.2.

We shall prove that for any $`\eta S^2H^1(𝒪_C)H^1(T_C)`$, there exists $`a`$ such that $`\mathrm{\Theta }_a`$ contains $`C^{(2)}`$ and the image of $`\eta `$ by the map

$$S^2H^1(𝒪_C)H^1(_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta })|_{X_a})$$

is nonzero unless either $`d=4`$ or $`d=5`$, $`h^0(L)=3`$ and $`C`$ has genus $`5`$ or genus $`4`$ and only one $`g_3^1`$.

### 3.3.

The latter map is the composition of

$$S^2H^1(𝒪_C)H^1(_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta }))$$

with restriction

$$H^1(_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta }))H^1(_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta })|_{X_a}).$$

From the natural map

$$_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta })|_{X_a}_{Z_{g1}X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta })$$

we obtain the map

$$H^1(_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta })|_{X_a})H^1(_{Z_{g1}X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta })).$$

Therefore we look at the kernel of the composition

(3.2)
$$\begin{array}{c}\hfill S^2H^1(𝒪_C)H^1(_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta }))H^1(_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta })|_{X_a})\\ \hfill H^1(_{Z_{g1}X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta })).\end{array}$$

From the usual exact sequence

$$0_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta })𝒪_{C^{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta })𝒪_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta })0,$$

we obtain the embedding

$$H^0(𝒪_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta }))H^1(_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta })).$$

By  p. 95, the image of $`S^2H^1(𝒪_C)`$ in $`H^1(_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta }))`$ is contained in $`H^0(𝒪_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta }))`$. Now, using the commutative diagram with exact rows

$$\begin{array}{ccccccccc}0& & _{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta })& & 𝒪_{C^{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta })& & 𝒪_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta })& & 0\\ & & & & & & & & \\ 0& & _{Z_{g1}X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta })& & 𝒪_{X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta })& & 𝒪_{Z_{g1}X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta })& & 0,\end{array}$$

Composition 3.2 is equal to the composition

$$\begin{array}{c}\hfill S^2H^1(𝒪_C)H^0(𝒪_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta }))H^0(𝒪_{Z_{g1}X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta }))\\ \hfill \stackrel{coboundary}{}H^1(_{Z_{g1}X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta })).\end{array}$$

By  p. 95 again, the first map is the following

$$\begin{array}{ccc}S^2H^1(𝒪_C)& & H^0(𝒪_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta }))\\ a_{ij}\frac{^2}{z_iz_j}& & a_{ij}\frac{^2\sigma }{z_iz_j}|_{Z_{g1}},\end{array}$$

where $`\{z_i\}`$ is a system of coordinates on $`A`$ and $`\sigma `$ is a theta function with divisor of zeros equal to $`\mathrm{\Theta }`$. So we have

$$\begin{array}{cccccc}S^2H^1(𝒪_C)& & H^0(𝒪_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta }))& & H^0(𝒪_{Z_{g1}X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta }))& \\ a_{ij}\frac{^2}{z_iz_j}& & a_{ij}\frac{^2\sigma }{z_iz_j}|_{Z_{g1}}& & a_{ij}\frac{^2\sigma }{z_iz_j}|_{Z_{g1}X_a}& \\ & & & \stackrel{coboundary}{}& H^1(_{Z_{g1}X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta }))& \\ & & & & \mathrm{?}& .\end{array}$$

We will investigate the kernel of the composition of the first two maps and that of the coboundary map separately. The kernel of the composition of the first two maps is contained in (with equality if and only if $`Z_{g1}X_a`$ is reduced) the annihilator of the quadrics of rank $`4`$ which are the tangent cones to $`\mathrm{\Theta }`$ at the points of $`\rho (Z_{g1})X_a=Sing(\mathrm{\Theta })X_a`$.

## 4. The kernel of the map $`S^2H^1(𝒪_C)H^0(𝒪_{Z_{g1}X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta }))`$

### 4.1.

Let $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(X)C^{(g3)}\times X`$ be the closure of the subvariety parametrizing pairs $`(q_i,D_2)`$ such that $`h^0(q_i)=1`$ (this is the case generically on $`C^{(g3)}`$ because dim$`W_{g3}^1g321=g6`$ by  pp. 348-350) and $`h^0(D_2+q_i)=2`$. Let $`Z(X)C^{(g3)}`$ be the image of $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(X)`$ by the first projection. Denote by $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(X_M)`$ and $`Z(X_M)`$ the corresponding objects for $`X_M`$. It follows from Corollary 4.3 below that $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(X)`$ and $`Z(X)`$ are not empty and $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(X_M)`$ and $`Z(X_M)`$ are not empty when either the degree of $`M`$ is at least $`4`$ or $`g5`$.

Given an infinitesimal deformation $`\eta S^2H^1(𝒪_C)H^1(T_C)`$ we shall prove that there is always a component of $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(X)`$ such that for $`(q_i,D_2)`$ general in that component the tangent cone to $`\mathrm{\Theta }`$ at $`𝒪_C(D_2+q_i)`$ does not vanish on $`\eta `$. This will follows from Corollary 4.3 below, given that the image $`𝒬`$ of $`Sing_2(\mathrm{\Theta })`$ in $`|I_2(C)|`$ generates $`|I_2(C)|`$. By our remarks above, it implies a fortiori that the image of $`\eta `$ in $`H^0(𝒪_{Z_{g1}X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta }))`$ is nonzero for $`a=p_iq_i`$. We will then show that generically on any component of $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(X)`$ the coboundary map

$$H^0(𝒪_{Z_{g1}X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta }))\stackrel{coboundary}{}H^1(_{Z_{g1}X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta }))$$

is injective unless either $`d=4`$ or $`d=5`$ and $`h^0(L)=3`$. It will follow by Theorem 3.2 that $`\nu _2(\eta )0`$, hence $`\nu (\eta )0`$ and $`X`$ does not deform with $`\eta `$ unless either $`d=4`$ or $`d=5`$ and $`h^0(L)=3`$. We begin by computing the dimensions of $`Z(X)`$ and $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(X)`$ and showing that $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(X)`$ maps onto $`Sing(\mathrm{\Theta })`$.

###### Lemma 4.1.

For any quadric $`Q`$ containing $`C`$, there exists $`D_2X`$ such that $`D_2Q`$. If either $`g5`$, or the degree of $`M`$ is at least $`4`$, then such a $`D_2`$ can be chosen to be in $`X_MX`$.

###### Proof.

By Appendix 6.3 the space $`I_2(C)`$ can be identified with $`H^0(C^{(2)},C_K2\delta )`$. So $`Q`$ corresponds to a section $`s_QH^0(C^{(2)},C_K2\delta )`$. The support of the divisor $`E_Q`$ of zeros of $`s_Q`$ is the set of divisors $`DC^{(2)}`$ such that $`DQ`$. So our lemma is equivalent to saying that the intersection $`E_QX`$ is not empty. This follows from the following computation of the intersection number of $`E_Q`$ and $`X`$ where we use $`d4`$ and $`g4`$.

$$\begin{array}{c}\hfill XE_Q=(C_L\delta )(C_K2\delta )=d(2g2)2d(2g2)2(g1)\\ \hfill =d(2g4)4g+44(2g4)4g+4=4g124.\end{array}$$

The analogous calculation with $`X_M`$ instead of $`X`$ proves the second asertion. ∎

###### Lemma 4.2.

For any $`g_{g1}^1`$ on $`C`$, there exists $`D_2X`$ such that $`h^0(g_{g1}^1D_2)>0`$. If either $`g5`$, or the degree of $`M`$ is at least $`4`$, then such a $`D_2`$ can be chosen to be in $`X_MX`$.

###### Proof.

This follows from the positivity of the intersection number of $`X`$ and $`X_2(g_{g1}^1)`$:

$$\begin{array}{c}\hfill XX_2(g_{g1}^1)=(C_L\delta )(C_{g_{g1}^1}\delta )=d(g1)d(g1)(g1)\\ \hfill =d(g2)2g+24(g2)2g+2=2g62.\end{array}$$

Tha analogus calculation with $`X_M`$ instead of $`X`$ proves the second assertion. ∎

###### Corollary 4.3.

The variety $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(X)`$ maps onto $`Sing(\mathrm{\Theta })`$ by $`\rho `$. If either $`g5`$, or the degree of $`M`$ is at least $`4`$, then $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(X_M)`$ also maps onto $`Sing(\mathrm{\Theta })`$ by $`\rho `$.

###### Proof.

It is sufficient to prove that the map $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(X)Sing(\mathrm{\Theta })`$ is dominant. A general point of $`Sing(\mathrm{\Theta })`$ is a complete $`g_{g1}^1`$ on $`C`$. By the previous lemma, there is a divisor of $`g_{g1}^1`$ which contains $`D_2`$. So there is $`q_iC^{(g3)}`$ with $`D_2+q_ig_{g1}^1`$. The pair $`(q_i,D_2)C^{(g3)}\times X`$ maps to $`g_{g1}^1`$ by $`\rho `$. To see that $`(q_i,D_2)\stackrel{~}{Z}(X)`$ for a general choice of $`g_{g1}^1`$, it is sufficient to prove that $`h^0(q_i)=1`$ for a general choice of $`g_{g1}^1`$.

If $`g_{g1}^1`$ is base-point-free, then this is automatic. If $`g_{g1}^1`$ has base points, then it is sufficient to prove that no divisor $`D_2X`$ is contained in its base divisor. It follows from a theorem of Mumford (see  p. 193) that a general $`g_{g1}^1`$ is base-point-free unless $`C`$ is either trigonal, bielliptic or a smooth plane quintic. In all these cases, the base divisor can be chosen to be general so that it contains no divisor $`D_2X`$.

The assertion about $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(X_M)`$ is proved similarly, using the corresponding statements for $`X_M`$. ∎

###### Proposition 4.4.

The varieties $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(X)`$ and $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(X_M)`$ (when non-empty) are everywhere of dimension $`g4`$.

###### Proof.

By Corollary 4.3, the variety $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(X)`$ is not empty. To see that the dimensions of $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(X)`$ and $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(X_M)`$ are everywhere $`g4`$, note that $`h^0(D_2+q_i)2`$ is equivalent to $`D_2+q_iZ_{g1}`$. Requiring $`D_2X`$ (resp. $`X_M`$) imposes at most one condition on the pair $`(q_i,D_2)`$. Since the dimension of $`Z_{g1}`$ is $`g3`$ , the proposition follows.

### 4.2.

Since quadrics associated to $`g_{g1}^1`$’s generate $`I_2(C)`$ (see  and ), for any direction $`\eta S^2H^1(𝒪_C)H^1(T_C)`$ there exists an irreducible component $`𝒬(\eta )`$ of $`𝒬`$ such that for $`Q`$ general in $`𝒬(\eta )`$, the quadric $`Q`$ is nonzero on $`\eta `$ (in fact $`𝒬`$ is almost always irreducible but we do not need to go into this). Let $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(\eta )`$ be an irreducible component of $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(X)`$ which maps onto $`𝒬(\eta )`$ and let $`Z(\eta )`$ be the image of $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(\eta )`$ in $`C^{(g3)}`$. If the degree of $`M`$ is at least $`4`$ or if $`g5`$, choose $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(\eta )`$ and $`Z(\eta )`$ to be in $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(X_M)`$ and $`Z(X_M)`$ respectively. Then, for $`q_i`$ general in $`Z(\eta )`$, the image of $`\eta `$ in the corresponding $`H^0(𝒪_{Z_{g1}X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta }))`$ is nonzero.

## 5. The coboundary map $`H^0(𝒪_{Z_{g1}X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta }))H^1(_{Z_{g1}X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta }))`$

###### Lemma 5.1.

Suppose $`q_iZ(X)`$ satisfies $`h^0(q_i)=1`$. If the coboundary map

$$H^0(𝒪_{Z_{g1}X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta }))H^1(_{Z_{g1}X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta }))$$

is not injective, then

$$H^0(C,Kq_iL)0.$$

###### Proof.

Using the exact sequence

$$\begin{array}{c}\hfill 0H^0(_{Z_{g1}X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta }))H^0(𝒪_{X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta }))\\ \hfill H^0(𝒪_{Z_{g1}X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta }))H^1(_{Z_{g1}X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta })),\end{array}$$

we need to understand the sections of $`𝒪_{X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta })`$ which vanish on $`Z_{g1}X_a`$. Equivalently, translating everything by $`a`$, we need to understand the sections of $`𝒪_X(\mathrm{\Theta }_a)`$ which vanish on $`(Z_{g1})_aX`$. For this, we use the embedding of $`X`$ in $`C^{(2)}`$:

$$0𝒪_{C^{(2)}}(\mathrm{\Theta }_aX)𝒪_{C^{(2)}}(\mathrm{\Theta }_a)𝒪_X(\mathrm{\Theta }_a)0.$$

Since $`𝒪_{C^{(2)}}(\mathrm{\Theta }_aX)𝒪_{C^{(2)}}(C_{K{\scriptscriptstyle q_i}L})=_{2,K{\scriptscriptstyle q_i}L}`$ and $`𝒪_{C^{(2)}}(\mathrm{\Theta }_a)𝒪_{C^{(2)}}(C_{K{\scriptscriptstyle q_i}}\delta )=_{2,K{\scriptscriptstyle q_i}}^{}`$ (see 6.1 for this notation), by Appendix 6.1 this gives the exact sequence of cohomology

$$\begin{array}{c}\hfill 0S^2H^0(C,K\underset{i=1}{\overset{g3}{}}q_iL)^2H^0(C,K\underset{i=1}{\overset{g3}{}}q_i)\\ \hfill H^0(X,\mathrm{\Theta }_a)H^0(C,K\underset{i=1}{\overset{g3}{}}q_iL)H^1(C,K\underset{i=1}{\overset{g3}{}}q_iL).\end{array}$$

Since $`h^0(q_i)=1`$, by Appendix 6.2 the elements of $`H^0(C^{(2)},\mathrm{\Theta }_a)=^2H^0(C,K_{i=1}^{g3}q_i)`$ all vanish on $`(Z_{g1})_aC^{(2)}`$, hence they also vanish on $`(Z_{g1})_aX`$. So if the coboundary map is not injective, then there must be elements of $`H^0(X,\mathrm{\Theta }_a)`$ which are not restrictions of elements of $`H^0(C^{(2)},\mathrm{\Theta }_a)`$. In particular, by the above exact sequence, we must have $`H^0(C,K_{i=1}^{g3}q_iL)0`$. ∎

For $`\eta S^2H^1(𝒪_C)H^1(T_C)`$, define $`𝒬(\eta )`$, $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(\eta )`$, $`Z(\eta )`$ as in Paragraph 4.2. We have

###### Theorem 5.2.

Suppose $`X`$ deforms infinitesimally with $`A`$ in a direction $`\eta S^2H^1(𝒪_C)H^1(T_C)`$, then either $`d=4`$ or $`d=5`$ and $`h^0(L)=3`$. Furthermore, in this case we can choose $`Z(\eta )`$ to be of dimension at least $`g4`$ unless $`g7`$, $`C`$ is a double cover of a smooth curve of genus $`2`$ and $`L`$ is the inverse image of the $`g_2^1`$ on the curve of genus $`2`$.

###### Proof.

Let $`q_iZ(\eta )`$ be general so that in particular we have $`h^0(q_i)=1`$ (see 4.1). Then, as we noted in 4.2, the image $`\overline{\eta }`$ of $`\eta `$ in $`H^0(𝒪_{Z_{g1}X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta }))`$ is not zero. Since $`X`$ deforms with $`\eta `$, by Theorem 3.2, the image of $`\eta `$ in $`H^1(_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta })|_{X_a})`$ is zero. So $`\overline{\eta }`$ is in the kernel of the coboundary map

$$H^0(𝒪_{Z_{g1}X_a}(\mathrm{\Theta }))H^1(_{Z_{g1}}(\mathrm{\Theta })|_{X_a})$$

which is therefore not injective. It follows, by Lemma 5.1, that $`h^0(Kq_iL)>0`$.

Since the dimension of $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(\eta )`$ is at least $`g4`$ (see Proposition 4.4) and $`X`$ is one-dimensional, the dimension of $`Z(\eta )`$ is at least $`g5`$. If the genus is $`4`$, then since $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(\eta )`$ is not empty, the dimension of $`Z(\eta )`$ is at least $`g4`$.

If $`Z(\eta )`$ has dimension $`g4`$, then by the above discussion we have $`h^0(Kq_iL)>0`$ for a $`(g4)`$-dimensional family of $`_{i=1}^{g3}q_i`$ (in $`Z(\eta )`$). So $`h^0(KL)g3`$ and, by Clifford’s Lemma, since $`C`$ is not hyperelliptic, we have $`2(g31)<2g2d`$ or $`d5`$. If $`d=5`$, then clearly $`h^0(L)=3`$.

Suppose now that every component $`Z(\eta )`$ has dimension $`g5`$. Then $`g5`$ by the above and $`Z(\eta )Z(X_M)`$. Here Clifford’s Lemma only gives us $`d7`$ so we use the following argument. Since $`h^0(q_i)=1`$ generically on $`Z(\eta )`$, the $`|q_i|`$ form a $`(g5)`$-dimensional family of linear systems and so do the $`|Kq_i|`$. Writing $`|Kq_i|=L+B^{}`$, the $`B^{}`$ vary in a family of effective divisors of dimension $`g5`$. Therefore the degree of $`B^{}`$ is at least $`g5`$ and $`d+g52g2(g3)`$, i.e., $`d6`$. Next $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(\eta )`$ has dimension $`g4`$ and the general fibers of $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(\eta )Z(\eta )`$ are one-dimensional, all equal to a union of components of $`X_M`$, say $`X^{}`$. Since we can suppose $`h^0(q_i)=1`$ (see 4.1), the condition $`h^0(D_2+q_i)2`$ for all $`D_2X^{}`$ means that $`q_iD_2\mathrm{}`$ for all $`D_2X^{}`$. Therefore the projection of center $`q_i`$ from the canonical curve $`C`$ to $`^2=|Kq_i|^{}`$ is not birational to its image. So there is a nonconstant map $`\kappa :CC^{}`$ of degree $`2`$ with $`C^{}`$ smooth such that

$$X^{}\{D_2C^{(2)}:tC^{}\text{ such that }D_2\kappa ^{}t\}.$$

and

$$|Kq_i|=\kappa ^{}N+B_0$$

where $`N`$ is a two-dimensional linear system $`N`$ on $`C^{}`$ and $`B_0`$ is the base divisor of $`|Kq_i|`$.

Consider now the linear systems $`|Kq_i|`$. As $`q_i`$ varies in $`Z(\eta )`$, the divisors of these linear systems form a $`(g3)`$-dimensional family of divisors. Therefore we have

$$g3deg(B_0)+deg(N)\text{or}deg(B_0)g3deg(N).$$

Combining this with the equality

$$deg(B_0)+deg(\kappa )deg(N)=g+1$$

we obtain

$$deg(N)(deg(\kappa )1)4.$$

Since $`N`$ has degree at least $`2`$ we first obtain

$$deg(\kappa )3.$$

If $`deg(\kappa )=3`$, then $`deg(N)=2`$ and $`C^{}`$ is a conic in $`^2`$. Hence $`C`$ is trigonal and $`X^{}=X_2(g_3^1)=\{D_2:h^0(g_3^1D_2)>0\}`$. In this case $`Z(X)=C^{(g3)}`$ since for any $`q_iC^{(g3)}`$, if we take $`D_2=g_3^1q_1X^{}`$, then $`h^0(D_2q_i)2`$. So $`Z(\eta )=Z(X)`$ is of dimension $`g3`$ which is contrary to our hypothesis.

Therefore $`\kappa `$ has degree $`2`$ and $`X^{}=\{\kappa ^{}t:tC^{}\}`$. In this case, since $`C`$ is not hyperelliptic, $`C^{}`$ is birational to a plane curve of degree $`3`$ or $`4`$ and has genus $`1,2`$ or $`3`$. If $`C^{}`$ is elliptic, then any divisor $`_{i=1}^{g5}q_i+\kappa ^{}q`$ is in $`Z(\eta )`$ and $`Z(\eta )`$ is of dimension $`g4`$ which is against our hypothesis. If $`C^{}`$ has genus $`2`$, then its plane model has degree $`4`$. If $`C^{}`$ has genus $`3`$, then it has only one $`g_4^2`$ which is then $`N`$. This implies that $`|K\kappa ^{}N|`$ has dimension $`g5`$ since $`h^0(K\kappa ^{}Nq_i)>0`$ for $`q_i`$ in a $`(g5)`$-dimensional family of effective divisors. Therefore $`h^0(\kappa ^{}N)5`$ by the Riemann-Roch Theorem. However, this is impossible as $`|Kq_i|=B_0+\kappa ^{}N`$ is a complete linear system of dimension $`2`$ for a general $`q_iZ(\eta )`$.

So $`C^{}`$ has genus $`2`$ and its plane model has a double point: $`N=g_2^1+t_1+t_2`$ for some points $`t_1`$ and $`t_2`$ on $`C^{}`$ such that $`t_1+t_2g_2^1`$. We obtain $`deg(B_0)=g7`$ and, for $`q_iZ(\eta )`$ general, $`B_0`$ is a general effective divisor of degree $`g7`$ on $`C`$. In particular, $`g7`$. Furthermore, since $`B_0`$ is general and $`h^0(\kappa ^{}N+B_0L)>0`$ for all $`B_0`$, we obtain

$$h^0(\kappa ^{}NL)>0.$$

Now, since the $`|Kq_i|`$ vary in a family of dimension $`g5`$, $`N`$ must vary in a family of dimension $`2`$, i.e., the points $`t_1`$ and $`t_2`$ are general in $`C^{}`$. Since $`L`$ is fixed this gives

$$h^0(\kappa ^{}g_2^1L)>0$$

and $`L`$ has degree $`4`$. ∎

### 5.1.

If $`d=4`$, then $`X`$ is a Prym-embedded curve . So $`X`$ deforms out of $`𝒥_g`$ into the locus of Prym varieties.

Let us then analyze the case $`d=5`$. Here $`h^0(L)=3`$ so $`g6`$. By the above, for $`X`$ to deform out of $`𝒥_g`$, it is necessary that, if generically on a component of $`Z(X)`$ we have $`h^0(Kq_iL)=0`$, then the image in $`𝒬`$ of the inverse image of that component in $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(X)`$ does not generate $`|I_2(C)|`$. Let $`D_2X`$ be such that $`h^0(q_i+D_2)2`$. Since $`L`$ is in a $`g_5^2`$, any divisor of $`L`$ spans a plane in $`|K|^{}`$. Let us now distinguish the cases of different genera.

Here $`g3=1`$ and $`q_i=q_1`$. The variety $`𝒬=|I_2(C)|`$ is a point so for $`X`$ to deform out of $`𝒥_4`$ we need that for all $`q_1Z(X)`$, $`h^0(KLq_1)>0`$. Any $`g_5^2`$ on $`C`$ is of the form $`|Kt|`$ for some point $`t`$ on $`C`$. So $`h^0(KLq_1)=h^0(tq_1)`$ is positive only when $`t=q_1`$. So for $`X`$ to deform out of $`𝒥_g`$ we need $`Z(X)=\{t\}`$.

Let us now determine $`Z(X)`$. To say $`h^0(D_2+q_1)2`$ means of course $`|D_2+q_1|`$ is one of the two possibly equal $`g_3^1`$ on $`C`$. Denote this $`g_3^1`$ by $`G`$. So $`D_2`$ is also on

$$X_2(G)=\{D_2:h^0(GD_2)>0\}.$$

First note that for any $`g_3^1`$ on $`C`$, $`X_2(g_3^1)C`$ is irreducible and if $`X`$ contains it, then $`Z(X)=C`$ and $`X`$ cannot deform. Next the intersection number of $`X_2(G)`$ with $`X`$ is

$$XX_2(G)=(C_L\delta )(C_G\delta )=15533=4.$$

We now find these four divisors of degree $`2`$ geometrically. The divisors of $`g_5^2=|Kt|L`$ are cut by planes through $`t`$. A pencil of these planes whose base locus we denote by $`L_0|K|^{},(L_0^1)`$ cuts the divisors of $`L`$ on $`C`$ and the divisor $`D_5`$ of $`L`$ containing $`D_2`$ is cut by the span $`L_0,t+D_2`$ which is a plane. On the other hand, the divisors of $`G`$ are cut on $`C`$ by a ruling $`R`$ of the unique quadric $`Q`$ containing $`C`$. Since $`X`$ does not contain $`X_2(g_3^1)`$ for any $`g_3^1`$ on $`C`$, it follows that $`L_0`$ is not contained in $`Q`$. So $`L_0Q`$ is the union of two possibly equal points. Exactly one line of $`R`$ passes through each of these points cutting two divisors of $`G`$ on $`C`$. One of these divisors is the divisor of $`R`$ containing $`t`$, say $`E_2+t`$ with $`E_2XX_2(G)`$. Writing the other divisor as $`t_1+t_2+t_3`$, we have $`t_i+t_jXX_2(G)`$ for all $`i,j\{1,2,3\}`$ which give us the other three points of $`XX_2(G)`$. This means that $`t_iZ(X)`$ for all $`i\{1,2,3\}`$. Therefore for $`X`$ to deform, we must have $`t_1=t_2=t_3=t`$. Therefore the two divisors of $`R`$ are equal to $`3t`$, in particular, $`L_0`$ is tangent to $`Q`$.

If $`C`$ has another $`g_3^1`$ we repeat the above argument to obtain that it is also equal to $`|3t|`$.

So we see that if $`X`$ deforms out of $`𝒥_4`$, then $`C`$ has only one $`g_3^1`$ with a triple ramification point $`t`$ such that $`5tL|Kt|`$ and $`X_2(g_3^1)`$ meets $`X`$ only at $`2t`$ with intersection multiplicity $`4`$. Finally note that the facts $`g_3^1=|3t|`$, $`5tL`$ and $`X`$ does not contain $`X_2(g_3^1)`$ imply that $`L`$ has no base-points.

Here $`g3=2`$ and $`q_i=q_1+q_2`$. The linear system $`|KL|=|Kg_5^2|`$ is a $`g_3^1`$ on $`C`$, unique because the genus is $`5`$. The variety $`𝒬`$ is a plane quintic with a double point: it is the image of $`C`$ in $`^2=|I_2(C)|`$ by the morphism associated to $`g_5^2`$. Every quadric of $`𝒬`$ has rank $`4`$ except its double point $`Q_0`$ which has rank $`3`$. The singular locus of $`Q_0`$ is a secant to $`C`$ and its ruling cuts the divisors of $`g_3^1`$ on $`C`$. The intersection of the singular locus of $`Q_0`$ with $`C`$ is the divisor $`D_0`$ such that $`2g_3^1+D_0K`$. The base locus of $`|I_2(C)|`$ in $`|K|^{}`$ is the rational normal scroll traced by the lines generated by the divisors of $`g_3^1`$.

To determine $`Z(X)`$ we first fix a general divisor $`D_2C^{(2)}`$ and find all the divisors $`q_1+q_2`$ such that $`h^0(D_2+q_1+q_2)2`$. To say $`h^0(D_2+q_1+q_2)2`$ means $`|D_2+q_1+q_2|`$ is a $`g_4^1`$ on $`C`$. To this $`g_4^1`$ is associated a quadric of rank $`4`$ which then contains $`D_2`$. Assuming $`h^0(g_3^1D_2)=0`$, there is exactly a pencil of quadrics of $`|I_2(C)|`$ which contain $`D_2`$. This pencil cuts $`𝒬`$ in five points counted with multiplicities giving us five quadrics counted with multiplicities, and for each quadric a choice of a ruling containing $`D_2`$. To each ruling is associated a $`g_4^1`$ such that $`h^0(g_4^1D_2)>0`$. These $`g_4^1`$ can be described as follows. Assuming that $`D_2D_0`$, there is a unique divisor of $`g_5^2`$ which contains $`D_2`$. Let this divisor be $`D_5`$ and write $`D_5=D_2+s_1+s_2+s_3`$. We have three $`g_4^1`$ containing $`D_2`$ obtained as $`|D_2+s_i+s_j|`$. Futhermore, if $`D_2=t_1+t_2`$, we have two other $`g_4^1`$ containing $`D_2`$ obtained as $`|g_3^1+t_i|`$. It is not difficult to see that these are distinct for a general choice of $`D_2`$.

Since $`d4`$, we can find $`D_2X`$ such that $`h^0(g_3^1D_2)=0`$. Taking such $`D_2`$ general in $`X`$ we can also assume $`D_2D_0`$. With the above notation, the possibly equal elements of $`Z(X)`$ that we obtain for $`D_2`$ are $`s_i+s_j`$ and $`g_3^1t_i`$. The last two are contained in a divisor of $`g_3^1=|KL|`$, meaning they satisfy $`h^0(KLq_i)>0`$. The pair $`(D_2,s_i+s_j)\stackrel{~}{Z}(X)`$ is above $`s_i+s_jZ(X)`$ and its image in $`𝒬`$ is the quadric swept by the planes spanned by the divisors of $`|D_2+s_i+s_j|`$. This quadric is also the image of $`s_k+g_3^1`$ for $`ki,j`$ since $`s_k+g_3^1=|KD_2s_is_j|`$. So the quadric is the image of the point $`s_k`$ of $`C`$ in $`𝒬`$. Since the base divisor of $`L`$ has degree at most $`2`$, for a general choice of $`D_2`$ as above, at least one of the $`s_i`$ will be a general point of $`C`$, and as $`D_2`$ varies, this point will trace all of $`C`$ and its image in $`𝒬`$ will trace all of $`𝒬`$. So for $`X`$ to deform we also need $`h^0(KLs_is_j)=h^0(g_3^1s_is_j)>0`$ for all $`ij`$. This implies $`s_1+s_2+s_3g_3^1`$ and since the divisor $`s_1+s_2+s_3`$ is not fixed, we obtain $`L=g_3^1+D_2`$. This contradicts the generality of $`D_2`$. Therefore $`X`$ cannot deform out of $`𝒥_5`$.

Here $`g3=3`$ and $`q_i=q_1+q_2+q_3`$. The curve $`C`$ is a smooth plane quintic and $`K2g_5^22L`$. The variety $`Sing(\mathrm{\Theta })`$ is the image of $`C\times C`$ via $`(p,q)|g_5^2p+q|`$ (see e.g.  p. 264). So every complete $`g_5^1`$ on $`C`$ has exactly one base point. Since $`C`$ embeds in $`^2`$ by the map associated to $`g_5^2`$, given $`t_1+t_2=D_2X`$, there is a unique divisor $`D_5=D_2+s_1+s_2+s_3`$ of $`g_5^2`$ containing it. The one-parameter family $`Z(D_2)`$ of $`g_5^1`$ such that $`h^0(g_5^1D_2)>0`$ has six components: one component is the family of pencils in $`g_5^2`$ passing through $`D_5`$, two components are families of complete $`g_5^1`$ obtained as $`|g_5^2t|+t_i`$ where $`t`$ varies in $`C`$, and the last three components are families of complete $`g_5^1`$ obtained as $`|D_2+s_i+s_j+t|`$ with $`t`$ varying in $`C`$. So altogether (and counting multiplicities) $`Z(D_2)`$ is the union of a smooth rational curve and $`5`$ copies of $`C`$. The divisors $`q_i`$ for the rational component are all equal to $`s_1+s_2+s_3`$ for which $`h^0(KLq_i)=h^0(g_5^2s_1s_2s_3)=h^0(D_2)>0`$. The divisors $`q_i`$ for the first two copies of $`C`$ in $`Z(D_2)`$ are $`g_5^2tt_j`$ so we see that they satisfy $`h^0(KLq_i)=h^0(g_5^2(g_5^2tt_j))=h^0(t+t_j)>0`$. The divisors $`q_i`$ for the last three copies of $`C`$ in $`Z(D_2)`$ are $`s_i+s_j+t`$ and so for $`t`$ general, we have $`h^0(KLq_i)=h^0(g_5^2s_is_jt)=h^0(D_2+s_kt)=0`$. As we saw, here $`q_i=s_i+s_j+t=g_5^2D_2s_k+t`$. The divisors that we obtain in $`\stackrel{~}{Z}(X)`$ map in $`Sing(\mathrm{\Theta })`$ to $`g_5^2s_k+t`$. As $`D_2`$ varies in $`X`$, the points $`s_k`$ and $`t`$ vary freely in $`C`$ and $`g_5^2s_k+t`$ traces all of $`Sing(\mathrm{\Theta })`$. So we see that $`X`$ cannot deform with $`JC`$ out of $`𝒥_6`$. Note however, that if we degenerate the plane quintic to a singular one, then $`X`$ might deform.

## 6. Appendix

### 6.1. The cohomology of some sheaves on $`C^{(n)}`$

We calculate the cohomologies of some sheaves on $`C^{(n)}`$ for an integer $`n2`$. Recall that $`\pi _n:C^nC^{(n)}`$ is the natural morphism and let $`\mathrm{\Delta }_{i,j}^n`$ ($`1i<jn`$) be the diagonals of $`C^n`$. Also let $`pr_i:C^nC`$ be the $`i`$-th projection. Then

$$\pi _n^{}(\omega _{C^{(n)}})\omega _{C^n}𝒪_{C^n}(\underset{1i<jn}{}\mathrm{\Delta }_{i,j}^n)$$

by the Hurwitz formula, and

$$\omega _{C^n}_{i=1}^npr_i^{}\omega _C.$$

For any non-trivial divisor class $`b`$ of degree $`0`$ on $`C`$, the intersection $`\mathrm{\Theta }.\mathrm{\Theta }_b`$ is easily seen to be reduced and its inverse image in $`C^{(g1)}`$ is

$$\{DC^{(g1)}:h^0(Db)>0\}=\{DC^{(g1)}:h^0(K+bD)>0\}.$$

If $`ng1`$, the restriction of this to $`C_{_{i=1}^{g1n}q_i}^{(n)}`$ is

$$\{DC^{(n)}:h^0(K+b\underset{i=1}{\overset{g1n}{}}q_iD)>0\}$$

whose pull-back to $`C^n`$ by $`\pi _n`$ is in the linear system

$$\begin{array}{c}\hfill |pr_1^{}𝒪_C(K+b\underset{i=1}{\overset{g1n}{}}q_i)\mathrm{}\\ \hfill \mathrm{}pr_n^{}𝒪_C(K+b\underset{i=1}{\overset{g1n}{}}q_i)𝒪_{C^n}(\underset{1i<jn}{}\mathrm{\Delta }_{i,j}^n)|\end{array}$$

as can be easily seen by restricting to fibers of the various projections $`C^nC^{n1}`$ and using the See-saw Theorem.

More generally, for any divisor $`E`$ on $`C`$, let $`_{n,E}`$ and $`_{n,E}^{}`$ be the invertible sheaves on $`C^{(n)}`$ whose inverse images by $`\pi _n`$ are isomorphic to

$$pr_1^{}𝒪_C(E)\mathrm{}pr_n^{}𝒪_C(E)$$

and

$$pr_1^{}𝒪_C(E)\mathrm{}pr_n^{}𝒪_C(E)𝒪_{C^n}(\underset{1i<jn}{}\mathrm{\Delta }_{i,j}^n)$$

respectively. We will calculate the cohomologies of $`_{n,E}`$ and $`_{n,E}^{}`$.

Since

$$\pi _n^{}_{n,E}pr_1^{}𝒪_C(E)\mathrm{}pr_n^{}𝒪_C(E),$$

the sheaf $`_{n,E}`$ is the invariant subsheaf of

$$\pi _{n}^{}{}_{}{}^{}\pi _n^{}_{n,E}=\pi _{n}^{}{}_{}{}^{}(pr_1^{}𝒪_C(E)\mathrm{}pr_n^{}𝒪_C(E))$$

for the action of the symmetric group $`𝔖_n`$. We claim that $`_{n,E}^{}`$ is the skew-symmetric subsheaf of

$$\pi _{n}^{}{}_{}{}^{}(pr_1^{}𝒪_C(E)\mathrm{}pr_n^{}𝒪_C(E))$$

for the action of $`𝔖_n`$. To see this, first note that any skew-symmetric local section of $`\pi _{n}^{}{}_{}{}^{}(pr_1^{}𝒪_C(E)\mathrm{}pr_n^{}𝒪_C(E))`$ vanishes on the diagonal $`\mathrm{\Delta }^n`$ of $`C^{(n)}`$. Conversely, pulling back to $`C^n`$, we see that the ideal sheaf of any of the diagonals is generated by skew-symmetric tensors.

Therefore the cohomology groups of $`_{n,E}`$ (resp. $`_{n,E}^{}`$) are the invariant (resp. skew-symmetric) parts of the cohomology groups of $`\pi _{n}^{}{}_{}{}^{}(pr_1^{}𝒪_C(E)\mathrm{}pr_n^{}𝒪_C(E))`$ under the action of $`𝔖_n`$. Or, equivalently, since $`\pi _n`$ is finite, the invariant (resp. skew-symmetric) parts of the cohomology groups of $`pr_1^{}𝒪_C(E)\mathrm{}pr_n^{}𝒪_C(E)`$ under the action of $`𝔖_n`$. By the Künneth formula the cohomology groups of $`pr_1^{}𝒪_C(E)\mathrm{}pr_n^{}𝒪_C(E)`$ are

$$H^i(pr_1^{}𝒪_C(E)\mathrm{}pr_n^{}𝒪_C(E))H^{j_1}(E)\mathrm{}H^{j_n}(E)$$

where the $`n`$-uples $`(j_1,\mathrm{},j_n)`$ describe the set of $`n`$-uples of elements of $`\{0,1\}`$, $`i`$ of which are equal to $`1`$ and the rest equal to $`0`$. The action of $`𝔖_n`$ on each of these cohomology groups is super-symmetric: for instance any transposition $`\tau `$ exchanging $`l`$ and $`k`$ sends an element $`e_1\mathrm{}e_l\mathrm{}e_k\mathrm{}e_n`$ to $`(1)^{j_lj_k}e_1\mathrm{}e_k\mathrm{}e_l\mathrm{}e_n`$. From this one easily calculates that the invariant parts of the cohomology groups are

$$\begin{array}{c}H^0(_{n,E})S^nH^0(E)\hfill \\ H^1(_{n,E})H^1(E)S^{n1}H^0(E)\hfill \\ H^2(_{n,E})^2H^1(E)S^{n2}H^0(E)\hfill \\ \mathrm{}\hfill \\ H^{n1}(_{n,E})^{n1}H^1(E)H^0(E)\hfill \\ H^d(_{n,E})^nH^1(E).\hfill \end{array}$$

Similarly, the skew-symmetric parts of the cohomology groups are

$$\begin{array}{c}H^0(_{n,E}^{})^nH^0(E)\hfill \\ H^1(_{n,E}^{})H^1(E)^{n1}H^0(E)\hfill \\ H^2(_{n,E}^{})S^2H^1(E)^{n2}H^0(E)\hfill \\ \mathrm{}\hfill \\ H^{n1}(_{n,E}^{})S^{n1}H^1(E)H^0(E)\hfill \\ H^n(_{n,E}^{})S^nH^1(E).\hfill \end{array}$$

### 6.2. Useful exact sequences of cohomology groups

Let $`a`$ be such that $`\mathrm{\Theta }_aC^{(2)}`$ and $`Sing(\mathrm{\Theta }_a)C^{(2)}`$. Then $`a+p_iq_i`$ and $`h^0(q_i)=1`$. As we saw in 6.1 we have $`𝒪_{C^{(2)}}(\mathrm{\Theta }_a)_{2,K{\scriptscriptstyle q_i}}^{}`$. Consider the composition

$$C^{(2)}C_{_{i=1}^{g3}q_i}^{(2)}C_{_{i=1}^{g4}q_i}^{(3)}\mathrm{}C_{q_1}^{(g2)}C^{(g1)}\mathrm{\Theta }_aA$$

For $`3ng1`$, we have the exact sequence

$$\begin{array}{c}\hfill 0𝒪_{C_{_{i=1}^{g1n}q_i}^{(n)}}(\mathrm{\Theta }_aC_{_{i=1}^{gn}q_i}^{(n1)})𝒪_{C_{_{i=1}^{g1n}q_i}^{(n)}}(\mathrm{\Theta }_a)\\ \hfill 𝒪_{C_{_{i=1}^{gn}q_i}^{(n1)}}(\mathrm{\Theta }_a)0.\end{array}$$

For each $`i`$, by 6.1, we have

$$\begin{array}{c}\hfill H^i(𝒪_{C_{_{i=1}^{g1n}q_i}^{(n)}}(\mathrm{\Theta }_aC_{_{i=1}^{gn}q_i}^{(n1)}))\\ \hfill S^iH^1(K\underset{i=1}{\overset{gn}{}}q_i)\mathrm{\Lambda }^{ni}H^0(K\underset{i=1}{\overset{gn}{}}q_i),\end{array}$$

$$H^i(𝒪_{C_{_{i=1}^{g1n}q_i}^{(n)}}(\mathrm{\Theta }_a))S^iH^1(K\underset{i=1}{\overset{g1n}{}}q_i)\mathrm{\Lambda }^{ni}H^0(K\underset{i=1}{\overset{g1n}{}}q_i),$$

$$H^i(𝒪_{C_{_{i=1}^{gn}q_i}^{(n1)}}(\mathrm{\Theta }_a))S^iH^1(K\underset{i=1}{\overset{gn}{}}q_i)\mathrm{\Lambda }^{n1i}H^0(K\underset{i=1}{\overset{gn}{}}q_i)$$

and the map on cohomology

$$H^i(𝒪_{C_{_{i=1}^{g1n}q_i}^{(n)}}(\mathrm{\Theta }_aC_{_{i=1}^{gn}q_i}^{(n1)}))H^i(𝒪_{C_{_{i=1}^{g1n}q_i}^{(n)}}(\mathrm{\Theta }_a))$$

is obtained from the inclusion

$$H^0(K\underset{i=1}{\overset{gn}{}}q_i)H^0(K\underset{i=1}{\overset{g1n}{}}q_i)$$

(note that the dimension of $`H^1(K_{i=1}^{gn}q_i)`$ and $`H^1(K_{i=1}^{g1n}q_i)`$ is $`1`$). It follows that for all $`i`$ the sequence

$$0H^i(𝒪_{C_{_{i=1}^{g1n}q_i}^{(n)}}(\mathrm{\Theta }_aC_{_{i=1}^{gn}q_i}^{(n1)}))H^i(𝒪_{C_{_{i=1}^{g1n}q_i}^{(n)}}(\mathrm{\Theta }_a))$$

$$H^i(𝒪_{C_{_{i=1}^{g1n}q_i}^{(n1)}}(\mathrm{\Theta }_a))0$$

is exact. In particular, all the sections of $`𝒪_{C^{(2)}}(\mathrm{\Theta }_a)`$ vanish on $`(Z_{g1})_aC^{(2)}`$, hence on $`(Z_{g1})_aX`$, so they restrict to sections of $`_{(Z_{g1})_aX}(\mathrm{\Theta }_a)`$ on $`X`$.

### 6.3. The cohomology of $`_{2,E}(\mathrm{\Delta })=𝒪_{C^{(2)}}(C_E\mathrm{\Delta })=𝒪_{C^{(2)}}(C_E\mathrm{\Delta })`$

We use the exact sequence

$$0𝒪_{C^{(2)}}(C_E\mathrm{\Delta })𝒪_{C^{(2)}}(C_E)𝒪_{C^{(2)}}(C_E)|_\mathrm{\Delta }0.$$

Under the isomorphism $`\mathrm{\Delta }C`$ we have $`𝒪_{C^{(2)}}(C_E)|_\mathrm{\Delta }𝒪_C(2E)`$) and, by 6.1, we have the long exact sequence of cohomology

(6.1)
$$\begin{array}{c}\hfill 0H^0(C^{(2)},C_E2\delta )S^2H^0(C,E)H^0(C,2E)\\ \hfill H^1(C^{(2)},C_E2\delta )H^0(C,E)H^1(C,E)\\ \hfill H^1(C,2E)H^2(C^{(2)},C_E2\delta )^2H^1(C,E)0.\end{array}$$

So, in particular, $`H^0(C^{(2)},C_E2\delta )=I_2(C,E)`$ is the space of quadratic forms vanishing on the image of $`C`$ in $`|E|^{}`$ if $`|E|\mathrm{}`$.

Note that using our result in Appendix 6.1 above, Pareschi and Popa  have computed the cohomology of $`_{n,E}(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ for $`n>2`$ as well.