Seshadri Constants for Curve Classes

Abstract

Abstract We develop a local positivity theory for movable curves on projective varieties similar to the classical Seshadri constants of nef divisors. We give analogues of the Seshadri ampleness criterion, of a characterization of the augmented base locus of a big and nef divisor, and of the interpretation of Seshadri constants as an asymptotic measure of jet separation. As application, we show in any characteristic that if $C$ is a smooth curve with ample normal bundle in a smooth projective variety then the class of $C$ is in the strict interior of the Mori cone. This was conjectured by Peternell and proved by Ottem and Lau in Characteristic 0.