Lower bounds for Clifford indices in rank three

Abstract

Clifford indices for semistable vector bundles on a smooth projective curve of genus at least 4 were defined in previous papers of the authors. In the present paper, we establish lower bounds for the Clifford indices for rank 3 bundles. As a consequence we show that, on smooth plane curves of degree at least 10, there exist non-generated bundles of rank 3 computing one of the Clifford indices.