Regularity on abelian varieties I

We introduce the notion of Mukai regularity ($M$-regularity) for coherent sheaves on abelian varieties. The definition is based on the Fourier-Mukai transform, and in a special case depending on the choice of a polarization it parallels and strengthens the usual Castelnuovo-Mumford regularity. Mukai regularity has a large number of applications, ranging from basic properties of linear series on abelian varieties and defining equations for their subvarieties, to higher dimensional type statements and to a study of special classes of vector bundles. Some of these applications are explained here, while others are the subject of upcoming sequels.