Curves of maximal moduli on K3 surfaces

Abstract

We prove that if $X$ is a complex projective K3 surface and $g>0$, then there exist infinitely many families of curves of geometric genus $g$ on $X$ with maximal, i.e., $g$-dimensional, variation in moduli. In particular every K3 surface contains a curve of geometric genus 1 which moves in a non-isotrivial family. This implies a conjecture of Huybrechts on constant cycle curves and gives an algebro-geometric proof of a theorem of Kobayashi that a K3 surface has no global symmetric differential forms.