arXiv subjects

Brian Harbourne

Publications and source records attributed to Brian Harbourne.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Artin-Schreier geproci configurations in projective spaces of arbitrary dimension

We construct finite geproci sets in every projective dimension and in every positive characteristic by introducing $\mathbb{F}_N$-Artin-Schreier configurations. In $\mathbb{P}^3$, we characterize exactly when such configurations are geproci: an $\mathbb{F}_N$-Artin-Schreier configuration on $q$ lines spanning $\mathbb{P}^3$ is $(q,N)$-geproci if and only if $q\leq N$. We then develop a lifting construction which produces geproci sets in $\mathbb{P}^n$ for every $n\geq 3$.

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arXiv2026

Enumerative geometry of skew lines in $\mathbb P^3$ with a given associated finite group

For any finite set $\mathcal L$ of 3 or more skew lines in $\mathbb P^3_{\overline{K}}$ over an algebraically closed field $\overline{K}$ of arbitrary characteristic, there is a canonical associated subgroup $G_{\mathcal L}$ of ${\rm PGL}_2(\overline{K})$. Given a finite subgroup $G\subset{\rm PGL}_2(\overline{K})$ we study which configurations of lines have $G_{\mathcal L}=G$. We derive an upper bound on the number $|\mathcal L|$ of lines in terms of the order $|G|$ of the group $G$ and as an application we classify up to projective equivalence which sets $\mathcal L$ in $\mathbb P^3_{\mathbb C}$ have $G_{\mathcal L}=G$ for certain finite nonabelian groups $G$.

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arXiv2026

Weddle schemes

The classical Weddle surface is the locus of vertices of quadric cones through six points in $\mathbb{P}^3$ in linear general position. Equivalently, it is the closure of the locus of centers of projection from which those six points map to six points on a plane conic. Motivated by this 1850 construction of T. Weddle, we introduce $d$-Weddle schemes for finite point sets $Z\subset \mathbb{P}^n$, defined by an analogous projection-to-degree-$d$ condition. Our main tool is Macaulay duality, which yields a natural multiplication map in an Artinian algebra defined by powers of linear forms. This viewpoint connects $d$-Weddle schemes to unexpected cones and interprets them as non-Lefschetz loci for these multiplication maps. Parallel to this, we give an analysis from the point of view of interpolation matrices, and we explain the connections between these approaches. For a general set $Z\subset \mathbb{P}^n$ of $\binom{d+n}{n}$ points, we show that the $d$-Weddle scheme is a hypersurface and we compute its degree. We also study general sets whose cardinalities are "near" such a binomial coefficient, where the Weddle scheme has higher codimension. Returning to sets of six points (not always in linear general position), we discuss special configurations in which the appropriate Weddle scheme is reducible, or even nonreduced.

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arXiv2025

Intersection of curves in projective 4 space

Given two distinct reduced, irreducible curves of given degrees, contained in projective space but whose union is not contained in a hyperplane, what is the largest number of points of intersection they can have? When the projective space is the plane, this is trivial. For projective 3 space this problem was solved independently by Diaz and by Giuffrida in 1986. They showed that two curves achieving the maximum number of intersection points have to be rational curves on a smooth surface of minimal degree, i.e., a quadric surface. Note that these curves are far from being arithmetically Cohen-Macaulay. In contrast, Hartshorne and Mir\'o-Roig addressed this problem in 2015 for space curves under the assumption that the curves are arithmetically Cohen-Macaulay (ACM), introducing very deep techniques and obtaining very different results from Diaz and Giuffrida. Diaz and Giuffrida also gave initial results in dimensions greater than 3. Here we continue this study for dimension 4. We introduce a number B defined in terms of the degrees of the curves and prove that when both curves lie on a surface of minimal degree (thus a cubic surface) then the number of points of intersection is at most B. Moreover, we conjecture that B is always an upper bound and we prove this conjecture in many cases, including when at least one of the curves is ACM. Our approach focuses on the genera of the curves and their union. In addition we define a second number B' in terms of the degrees and the genus of the union which we can show bounds the number of points of intersection above, and we use a variety of methods to study how B and B' compare.

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arXiv2024

Finite sets of points in $\mathbb{P}^4$ with special projection properties

In this note we introduce the notion of $(b,d)$-geprofi sets and study their basic properties. These are sets of $bd$ points in $\mathbb{P}^4$ whose projection from a general point to a hyperplane is a full intersection, i.e., the intersection of a curve of degree $b$ and a surface of degree $d$. We show that such nontrivial sets exist if and only if $b\geq 4$ and $d\geq 2$. Somewhat surprisingly, for infinitely many values of $b$ and $d$ there exist such sets in linear general position. The note contains open questions and problems.

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arXiv2023

Geproci sets on skew lines in $\mathbb P^3$ with two transversals

The purpose of this work is to pursue classification of geproci sets. Specifically we classify $[m,n]$-geproci sets which consist of $m=4$ points on each of $n$ skew lines, assuming the skew lines have two transversals in common. We show that in this case $n\leq 6$. Moreover we show that all geproci sets of this type are contained in the \emph{standard construction} for $m=4$ introduced in arXiv:2209.04820. Finally, we propose a conjectural representation for all geproci sets of this type, irrespective of the number $m$ of points on each skew line.

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arXiv2023

Combinatorics of skew lines in $\mathbb P^3$ with an application to algebraic geometry

This article introduces a previously unrecognized combinatorial structure underlying configurations of skew lines in $\mathbb{P}^3$, and reveals its deep and surprising connection to the algebro-geometric concept of geproci sets. Given any field $\mathbb{K}$ and a finite set $\mathcal L$ of 3 or more skew lines in $\mathbb{P}^3_\mathbb{K}$, we associate to it a group $G_{\mathcal L}$ and a groupoid $C_{\mathcal L}$ whose action on the union $\cup_{L\in\mathcal L}L$ provides orbits which have a rich combinatorial structure. We characterize when $G_{\mathcal L}$ is abelian and give partial results on its finiteness. The notion of \emph{collinearly complete} subsets is introduced and shown to correspond exactly to unions of groupoid orbits. In the case where $\mathbb{K}$ is a finite field and $\mathcal L$ is a full spread in $\mathbb{P}^3_\mathbb{K}$ (i.e., every point of $\mathbb{P}^3_\mathbb{K}$ lies on a line in $\mathcal{L}$), we prove that $G_{\mathcal L}$ being abelian characterizes the classical spread given by the fibers of the Hopf fibration. Over any algebraically closed field, we establish that finite unions of $C_{\mathcal L}$-orbits are geproci sets - that is, finite sets whose general projections to a plane are complete intersections. Furthermore, we prove a converse: if $\mathbb{K}$ is algebraically closed and $Z \subset \mathbb{P}^3_\mathbb{K}$ is a geproci set consisting of $m$ points on each of $s \geq 3$ skew lines $\mathcal L$ where the general projection of $Z$ is a complete intersection of type $(m, s)$, then $Z$ is a finite union of orbits of $C_{\mathcal L}$. This work thus uncovers a profound combinatorial framework governing geproci sets, providing a new bridge between incidence combinatorics and algebraic geometry.

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arXiv2023

On the classification of certain geproci sets

In this short note we develop new methods toward the ultimate goal of classifying geproci sets in $\mathbb P^3$. We apply these methods to show that among sets of $16$ points distributed evenly on $4$ skew lines, up to projective equivalence there are only two distinct geproci sets. We give different geometric distinctions between these sets. The methods we develop here can be applied in a more general set-up; this is the context of the follow-up work arXiv:2308.00761.

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arXiv2023

Unexpected hypersurfaces and their consequences: A Survey

The notion of an unexpected curve in the plane was introduced in 2018, and was quickly generalized in several directions in a flurry of mathematical activity by many authors. In this expository paper we first describe some of the main results on unexpected hypersurfaces. Then we summarize two offshoots of this theory. First we look at sets of points in $\mathbb P^3$ whose general projection is a planar complete intersection (so-called {\it geproci} sets). Although we now know a lot about these sets, much remains mysterious. Then we describe an interesting measure of unexpectedness called {\it $AV$-sequences}, which have a surprising structure that is not yet fully understood.

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arXiv2022

Configurations of points in projective space and their projections

We call a set of points $Z\subset{\mathbb P}^{3}_{\mathbb C}$ an $(a,b)$-geproci set (for GEneral PROjection is a Complete Intersection) if its projection from a general point $P$ to a plane is a complete intersection of curves of degrees $a$ and $b$. Examples which we call grids have been known since 2011. The only nongrid nondegenerate examples previously known had $ab=12, 16, 20, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54$ or $60$. Here, for any $4 \leq a \leq b$, we construct nongrid nondegenerate $(a,b)$-geproci sets in a systematic way. We also show that the only such example with $a=3$ is a $(3,4)$-geproci set coming from the $D_4$ root system, and we describe the $D_4$ configuration in detail. We also consider the question of the equivalence (in various senses) of geproci sets, as well as which sets occur over the reals, and which cannot. We identify several additional examples of geproci sets with interesting properties. We also explore the relation between unexpected cones and geproci sets and introduce the notion of $d$-Weddle schemes arising from special projections of finite sets of points. This work initiates the exploration of new perspectives on classical areas of geometry. We formulate and discuss a range of open problems in the final chapter.

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arXiv2021

On the Bounded Negativity Conjecture and singular plane curves

There are no known failures of Bounded Negativity in characteristic 0. In the light of recent work showing the Bounded Negativity Conjecture fails in positive characteristics for rational surfaces, we propose new characteristic free conjectures as a replacement. We also develop bounds on numerical characteristics of curves constraining their negativity. For example, we show that the $H$-constant of a rational curve $C$ with at most $9$ singular points satisfies $H(C)>-2$ regardless of the characteristic.

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arXiv2020

Extreme values of the resurgence for homogeneous ideals in polynomial rings

We show that two ostensibly different versions of the asymptotic resurgence introduced by Guardo, Harbourne and Van Tuyl in 2013 are the same. We also show that the resurgence and asymptotic resurgence attain their maximal values simultaneously, if at all, which we apply to a conjecture of Grifo. For radical ideals of points, we show that the resurgence and asymptotic resurgence attain their minimal values simultaneously. In addition, we introduce an integral closure version of the resurgence and relate it to the other versions of the resurgence. In closing we provide various examples and raise some related questions, and we finish with some remarks about computing the resurgence.

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arXiv2020

Expecting the unexpected: quantifying the persistence of unexpected hypersurfaces

If $X \subset \mathbb P^n$ is a reduced subscheme, we say that $X$ admits an unexpected hypersurface of degree $t$ for multiplicity $m$ if the imposition of having multiplicity $m$ at a general point $P$ fails to impose the expected number of conditions on the linear system of hypersurfaces of degree $t$ containing $X$. Conditions which either guarantee the occurrence of unexpected hypersurfaces, or which ensure that they cannot occur, are not well understand. We introduce new methods for studying unexpectedness, such as the use of generic initial ideals and partial elimination ideals to clarify when it can and when it cannot occur. We also exhibit algebraic and geometric properties of $X$ which in some cases guarantee and in other cases preclude $X$ having certain kinds of unexpectedness. In addition, we formulate a new way of quantifying unexpectedness (our AV sequence), which allows us detect the extent to which unexpectedness persists as $t$ increases but $t-m$ remains constant. Finally, we study to what extent we can detect unexpectedness from the Hilbert function of $X$.

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arXiv2019

Real and complex supersolvable line arrangements in the projective plane

We study supersolvable line arrangements in ${\mathbb P}^2$ over the reals and over the complex numbers, as the first step toward a combinatorial classification. Our main results show that a nontrivial (i.e., not a pencil or near pencil) complex line arrangement cannot have more than 4 modular points, and if all of the crossing points of a complex line arrangement have multiplicity 3 or 4, then the arrangement must have 0 modular points (i.e., it cannot be supersolvable). This provides at least a little evidence for our conjecture that every nontrivial complex supersolvable line arrangement has at least one point of multiplicity 2, which in turn is a step toward the much stronger conjecture of Anzis and Tohǎneanu that every nontrivial complex supersolvable line arrangement with $s$ lines has at least $s/2$ points of multiplicity 2.

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arXiv2019

A matrixwise approach to unexpected hypersurfaces

The aim of this note is to give a generalization of some results concerning unexpected hypersurfaces. Unexpected hypersurfaces occur when the actual dimension of the space of forms satisfying certain vanishing data is positive and the imposed vanishing conditions are not independent. The first instance studied were unexpected curves in the paper by Cook II, Harbourne, Migliore, Nagel. Unexpected hypersurfaces were then investigated by Bauer, Malara, Szpond and Szemberg, followed by Harbourne, Migliore, Nagel and Teitler who introduced the notion of BMSS duality and showed it holds in some cases (such as certain plane curves and, in higher dimensions, for certain cones). They ask to what extent such a duality holds in general. In this paper, working over a field of characteristic zero, we study hypersurfaces in $\mathbb{P}^n\times\mathbb{P}^n$ defined by determinants. We apply our results to unexpected hypersurfacesin the case that the actual dimension is 1 (i.e., there is a unique unexpected hypersurface). In this case, we show that a version of BMSS duality always holds, as a consequence of fundamental properties of determinants.

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arXiv2019

Bounded volume denominators and bounded negativity

In this paper we study the question of whether on smooth projective surfaces the denominators in the volumes of big line bundles are bounded. In particular we investigate how this condition is related to bounded negativity (i.e., the boundedness of self-intersections of irreducible curves). Our first result shows that boundedness of volume denominators is equivalent to \emph{primitive bounded negativity}, which in turn is implied by bounded negativity. We connect this result to the study of semi-effective orders of divisors: Our second result shows that negative classes exist that become effective only after taking an arbitrarily large multiple.

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arXiv2019

New constructions of unexpected hypersurfaces in $\mathbb{P}^n$

In the paper we present new examples of unexpected varieties. The research on unexpected varieties started with a paper of Cook II, Harbourne, Migliore and Nagel and was continued in the paper of Harbourne, Migliore, Nagel and Teitler. Here we present three ways of producing unexpected varieties that expand on what was previously known. In the paper of Harbourne, Migliore, Nagel and Teitler, cones on varieties of codimension 2 were used to produce unexpected hypersurfaces. Here we show that cones on positive dimensional varieties of codimension 2 or more almost always give unexpected hypersurfaces. For non-cones, almost all previous work has been for unexpected hypersurfaces coming from finite sets of points. Here we construct unexpected surfaces coming from lines in $\mathbb{P}^3$, and we generalize the construction using birational transformations to obtain unexpected hypersurfaces in higher dimensions.

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arXiv2017

Single point Seshadri constants on rational surfaces

Motivated by a similar result of Dumnicki, Küronya, Maclean and Szemberg under a slightly stronger hypothesis, we exhibit irrational single-point Seshadri constants on a rational surface $X$ obtained by blowing up very general points of $\mathbb{P}^2_\mathbb{C}$, assuming only that all prime divisors on $X$ of negative self-intersection are smooth rational curves $C$ with $C^2=-1$. (This assumption is a consequence of the SHGH Conjecture, but it is weaker than assuming the full conjecture.)

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