Very ample linear systems on abelian varieties

Abstract

Let $(X,L)$ be a polarized complex abelian variety of dimension $g$ where $L$ is a polarization of type $(1,...,1,d)$. For $(X,L)$ genberic we prove the following: (1) If $d \ge g+2$, then $\phi_L\colon X \to {\bf P}^{d-1}$ defines a birational morphism onto its image. (2) If $d > 2^g$, then $L$ is very ample. We show the latter by checking it on a suitable rank-$(g-1)$-degeneration.