Riemann singularity theorem (${\mathrm{mult}}_L\Theta =h^0(X,L)$)

For a compact Riemann surface of genus $g\ge 1$, the theta divisor in ${\mathrm{Pic}}^{g-1}(X)$ has the displayed multiplicity. A local determinant description of the theta divisor reduces to an $r$ by $r$ matrix vanishing at $L$, where $r=h^0(L)$. Its linear term is cup product with a tangent class in $H^1({\mathcal{O}}_X)$. The invertible cup-product direction for a line bundle on a curve shows that its determinant has order exactly $r$. Consequently the singular locus consists precisely of classes with at least two independent global sections.

For a square evaluation matrix representing a degree-$g-1$ line bundle $L$, remove an invertible minor of size $N-h^0(L)$. Holomorphic row and column operations leave a square matrix $M$ of size $r=h^0(L)$ with zero constant term. Its linear part in a tangent direction $\xi \in H^1({\mathcal{O}}_X)$ is $\xi ⌣-:H^0(L)\to H^1(L)$. The invertible cup-product direction for a line bundle on a curve makes the leading degree-$r$ determinant nonzero, establishing order exactly $r$ rather than just a lower bound.

The tangent cone to a theta divisor at a degree-$g-1$ line bundle $L$ is cut out in $H^1({\mathcal{O}}_X)$ by the determinant of $\xi ⌣-:H^0(L)\to H^1(L)$. Under Serre duality its matrix entries are $⟨\xi ,s_i{t}_j⟩$ for bases of $H^0(L)$ and $H^0(K_X\otimes L^{-1})$. For $h^0(L)=1$, its tangent hyperplane is annihilated by the nonzero holomorphic differential form $s_1{t}_1$.