On two rationality conjectures for cubic fourfolds

Abstract

Motivated by the question of rationality of cubic fourfolds, we show that a cubic X has an associated K3 surface in the sense of Hassett if and only if the variety F of lines on X is birational to a moduli space of sheaves on a K3 surface, but that having F birational to Hilb^2(K3) is more restrictive. We compare the loci in the moduli space of cubics where each condition is satisfied.