Moduli of Cubic fourfolds and reducible OADP surfaces

Abstract

In this paper we explore the intersection of the Hassett divisor $\mathcal C_8$, parametrizing smooth cubic fourfolds $X$ containing a plane $P$ with other divisors $\mathcal C_i$. Notably we study the irreducible components of the intersections with $\mathcal{C}_{12}$ and $\mathcal{C}_{20}$. These two divisors generically parametrize respectively cubics containing a smooth cubic scroll, and a smooth Veronese surface. First, we find all the irreducible components of the two intersections, and describe the geometry of the generic elements in terms of the intersection of $P$ with the other surface. Then we consider the problem of rationality of cubics in these components, either by finding rational sections of the quadric fibration induced by projection off $P$, or by finding examples of reducible one-apparent-double-point surfaces inside $X$. Finally, via some Macaulay computations, we give explicit equations for cubics in each component.