Curves having one place at infinity and linear systems on rational surfaces

Denoting by ${\mathcal L}_d(m_0,m_1,...,m_r)$ the linear system of plane curves passing through $r+1$ generic points $p_0,p_1,...,p_r$ of the projective plane with multiplicity $m_i$ (or larger) at each $p_i$, we prove the Harbourne-Hirschowitz Conjecture for linear systems ${\mathcal L}_d(m_0,m_1,...,m_r)$ determined by a wide family of systems of multiplicities $\bold{m}=(m_i)_{i=0}^r$ and arbitrary degree $d$. Moreover, we provide an algorithm for computing a bound of the regularity of an arbitrary system $\bold{m}$ and we give its exact value when $\bold{m}$ is in the above family. To do that, we prove an $H^1$-vanishing theorem for line bundles on surfaces associated with some pencils ``at infinity''.