Tau function and the Prym class

Abstract

We use the formalism of the Bergman tau functions to study the geometry of moduli spaces of holomorphic quadratic differentials on complex algebraic curves. We introduce two natural tau functions and interpret them as holomorphic sections of certain line bundles on the moduli space. Analyzing the asymptotic behavior of these tau functions near the boundary of the moduli space we get two non-trivial relation in the rational Picard group of the moduli space of quadratic differential.