On the geometry of the compactification of the universal Picard variety

Abstract

Here we focus on the geometry of $\pdgbar$, the compactification of the universal Picard variety constructed by L. Caporaso. In particular, we show that the moduli space of spin curves constructed by M. Cornalba naturally injects into $\pdgbar$ and we give generators and relations of the rational divisor class group of $\pdgbar$, extending previous work by A. Kouvidakis.

Revised version (modified statement of Theorem 2 and other minor changes)