# Discriminants of complete intersection space curves

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a new, unambiguous formula for the discriminant of complete intersection space curves in projective space, enabling efficient computation and providing geometric insights.

## Contribution

It develops a novel formula for the discriminant using resultants, applicable over any commutative ring, and establishes its properties and geometric significance.

## Key findings

- New formula for the discriminant without ambiguity
- Efficient computation method avoiding Cayley trick
- Discriminant as the defining equation of the discriminant scheme

## Abstract

In this paper, we develop a new approach to the discrimi-nant of a complete intersection curve in the 3-dimensional projective space. By relying on the resultant theory, we first prove a new formula that allows us to define this discrimi-nant without ambiguity and over any commutative ring, in particular in any characteristic. This formula also provides a new method for evaluating and computing this discrimi-nant efficiently, without the need to introduce new variables as with the well-known Cayley trick. Then, we obtain new properties and computational rules such as the covariance and the invariance formulas. Finally, we show that our definition of the discriminant satisfies to the expected geometric property and hence yields an effective smoothness criterion for complete intersection space curves. Actually, we show that in the generic setting, it is the defining equation of the discriminant scheme if the ground ring is assumed to be a unique factorization domain.