The line-finding conjecture for cubic surfaces

Let H3,3\mathcal{H}_{3,3} denote the moduli space of smooth cubic surfaces, and let H3,3(r)\mathcal{H}_{3,3}(r) denote the moduli space of smooth cubic surfaces together with rr specified lines. The resolvent degree RD(H3,3(r)H3,3)\operatorname{RD}(\mathcal{H}_{3,3}(r)\to\mathcal{H}_{3,3}) measures the complexity of finding the lines on a general cubic surface. The line-finding conjecture.

RD(H3,3(27)H3,3)=RD(H3,3(1)H3,3)=3.\operatorname{RD}(\mathcal{H}_{3,3}(27)\to \mathcal{H}_{3,3})=\operatorname{RD}(\mathcal{H}_{3,3}(1)\to \mathcal{H}_{3,3})=3.

This asserts that finding all 2727 lines, or even one line, on a general smooth cubic surface has resolvent degree exactly 33. The surrounding discussion gives the upper bound via classical constructions, while the required lower bound is part of the paper's study of lower bounds for resolvent degree.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

Benson Farb and Jesse Wolfson, “Resolvent degree, Hilbert's 13th Problem and geometry”, arXiv:1803.04063 (2020).

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