On the rank index of projective curves of almost minimal degree

Abstract: In this article, we investigate the rank index of projective curves $\mathscr{C} \subset \mathbb{P}^r$ of degree $r+1$ when $\mathscr{C} = \pi_p (\tilde{\mathscr{C}})$ for the standard rational normal curve $\tilde{\mathscr{C}} \subset \mathbb{P}^{r+1}$ and a point $p \in \mathbb{P}^{r+1} \setminus \tilde{\mathscr{C}}^3$. Here, the rank index of a closed subscheme $X \subset \mathbb{P}^r$ is defined to be the least integer $k$ such that its homogeneous ideal can be generated by quadratic polynomials of rank $\leq k$. Our results show that the rank index of $\mathscr{C}$ is at most $4$, and it is exactly equal to $3$ when the projection center $p$ is a coordinate point of $\mathbb{P}^{r+1}$. We also investigate the case where $p \in \tilde{\mathscr{C}}^3 \setminus \tilde{\mathscr{C}}^2$.