Generalized varieties of sums of powers

Abstract

Let $X\subset\mathbb{P}^{N}$ be an irreducible, non-degenerate variety. The generalized variety of sums of powers $VSP_H^X(h)$ of $X$ is the closure in the Hilbert scheme $Hilb_{h}(X)$ of the locus parametrizing collections of points $\{x_{1},...,x_{h}\}$ such that the $(h-1)$-plane $\left\langle x_{1},...,x_{h}\right\rangle$ passes trough a fixed general point $p\in\mathbb{P}^{N}$. When $X = V_{d}^{n}$ is a Veronese variety we recover the classical variety of sums of powers $VSP(F,h)$ parametrizing additive decompositions of a homogeneous polynomial as powers of linear forms. In this paper we study the birational behavior of $VSP_H^X(h)$. In particular we will show how some birational properties, such as rationality, unirationality and rational connectedness, of $VSP_H^X(h)$ are inherited from the birational geometry of variety $X$ itself.