Seshadri constants, gonality of space curves and restriction of stable bundles

Abstract

We define the Seshadri constant of a space curve and consider ways to estimate it. We then show that it governs the gonality of the curve. We use an argument based on Bogomolov's instability theorem on a threefold. The same methods are then applied to the study of the behaviour of a stable vector bundle on P^3 under restriction to curves and surfaces.