# Effective theta characteristics

Let $C$ be a complex smooth projective curve of genus $g$ and let $N$ be the number of effective theta-characteristics of $C$, or equivalently, the number of points of order two on the theta divisor of $J(C)$.

It is known that, if $C$ is generic, $N$ is the number of the odd theta characteristics. Mumford proves that on a principally polarized abelian variety the theta divisor cannot contain all the points of order two. It follows that $N<2^{2g}$.

Given an arbitrary curve $C$, is it known a upper bound for $N$ depending on $g$?

-

Well, there's a lower bound as odd theta characteristics on a canonical curve are effective, so there are at least $2^{g-1}(2^g -1)$ of them. Even thetas are trickier.

-
Yes, I mean upper bound. Thank you. Now I've modified the question and it is more precise. I take a look to your link. –  V M Sep 29 '10 at 14:38
Probably of especial interest to you would be the Scorza correspondence if you don't already know about it. –  stankewicz Sep 29 '10 at 14:41
I didn't know about it. I'm not sure I understand your answer. Do you mean that Scorza correspondence gives an estimate on the maximal number of effective theta characteristics? –  V M Oct 2 '10 at 14:46
Well, not directly but you need a non-effective theta characteristic to define such a correspondence and a correspondence on $C\times C$ of the type detailed in Dolgachev's book gives a non-effective theta. So while I don't know of a non-trivial upper bound, there's at least a foothold you can start from if you wanted to prove something. –  stankewicz Oct 2 '10 at 15:35