Contractible Extremal Rays on \overline{M}_{0,n}

Abstract

We consider the cones of curves and divisors on the moduli space of stable pointed rational curves,M_n, and on the quotient by the symmetric group, Q_n, which is a moduli space of pairs. We find generators for contractible extremal rays of the cone of curves NE_1(M_n), and for the cone of divisors NE^1(Q_n). This second cone turns out to be simplicial. We give complete descriptions of NE_1(M_n) and NE_1(Q_n) for small n (< 8 in the first case, < 11 in the second). We also have results of independent interest on when curves in a divisor generate the cone of curves of the ambient variety.