The classification of minimal rational surfaces and the birational links between them by Iskovskikh, Manin and others is a well-known subject in the theory of algebraic surfaces. We explain algorithms that realise links of type II between minimal del Pezzo surfaces, one of the major classes of birational links, and we describe briefly how this fits into a large project to implement the results of Iskovskikh's programme in Magma.
We study finite $p$-subgroups of birational automorphism groups. By virtue of boundedness theorem of Fano varieties, we prove that there exists a constant $R(n)$ such that a rationally connected variety of dimension $n$ over an algebraically closed field is rational if its birational automorphism group contains a $p$-subgroups of maximal rank for $p > R(n)$. Some related applications on Jordan property are discussed.
This is, mostly, a survey of results about the birational geometry of rationally connected manifolds, using rational curves analogous to lines in ${\mathbb P}^n$ ({\it quasi-lines}). Various characterizations of a Zariski neighbourhood of a line in ${\mathbb P}^n$ are obtained, some of them being new. Also, methods of formal geometry are applied for deducing results of birational nature.
We investigate the birational geometry (in the sense of Mori's program) of the moduli space of rank 2 semistable parabolic vector bundles on a rational curve. We compute the effective cone of the moduli space and show that all birational models obtained by Mori's program are also moduli spaces of parabolic vector bundles with certain parabolic weights.
In this paper we consider the birational classification of pairs (S,L), with S a rational surfaces and L a linear system on S. We give a classification theorem for such pairs and we determine, for each irreducible plane curve B, its "Cremona minimal" models, i.e. those plane curves which are equivalent to B via a Cremona transformation, and have minimal degree under this condition.
We consider the question whether one can construct an embedded resolution of singularities of a singular variety $X\subset \textbf{A}^n$ from the data of the irreducible components of the spaces of jets (of $X$) centered at the singular locus of $X.$ We show that the answer is no in general and that it is yes for some birational models of rational triple surface singularities.
Two birational subvarieties of P^n are called Cremona equivalent if there is a Cremona modification of P^n mapping one to the other. If the codimension of the varieties is at least 2 then they are always Cremona Equivalent. For divisors the question is much more subtle and a general answer is unknown. In this paper I study the case of rational quartic surfaces and prove that they are all Cremona equivalent to a plane.
Here we investigate the birational geometry of projective varieties of arbitrary dimension having defective higher secant varieties. We apply the classical tool of tangential projections and we determine natural conditions for uniruledness, rational connectivity, and rationality.
In this paper, we study the birational geometry of the Quot schemes of trivial bundles on $\mathbb{P}^1$ by constructing small $\mathbb{Q}$-factorial modifications of the Quot schemes as suitable moduli spaces. We determine all the models which appear in the minimal model program on the Quot schemes. As a corollary, we show that the Quot schemes are Mori dream spaces and log Fano.
In this paper we show that not all affine rational complex surfaces can be parametrized birationally and surjectively. For this purpose, we prove that, if S is an affine complex surface whose projective closure is smooth, a necessary condition for S to admit a birational surjective parametrization from an open subset of the affine complex plane is that the infinity curve of S must contain at least one rational component. As a consequence of this result we provide examples of affine rational surfaces that do not admit birational surjective parametrizations.
Del Pezzo fibrations appear as minimal models of rationally connected varieties. The rationality of smooth del Pezzo fibrations is a well studied question but smooth fibrations are not dense in moduli. Little is known about the rationality of the singular models. We prove birational rigidity, hence non-rationality, of del Pezzo fibrations with simple non-Gorenstein singularities satisfying the famous $K^2$-condition. We then apply this result to study embeddings of $\operatorname{PSL}_2(7)$ into the Cremona group.
We study the notion of a birational Chow-Künneth decomposition, which is essentially a decomposition of the integral birational motive of a variety. The existence of a birational Chow-Künneth decomposition is stably birationally invariant and this notion refines the Chow theoretical decomposition of the diagonal. We show that a birational Chow-Künneth decompostion exists for the following varieties: (a) Jacobian variety; (b) Hilbert scheme of points on a $K3$ surface and (c) The variety of lines on a stably rational cubic threefold or a stably rational cubic fourfold.
We study the birational geometry of a Fano 4-fold X from the point of view of Mori dream spaces; more precisely, we study rational contractions of X. Here a rational contraction is a rational map f: X-->Y, where Y is normal and projective, which factors as a finite sequence of flips, followed by a surjective morphism with connected fibers. Such f is called elementary if the difference of the Picard numbers of X and Y is 1. We first give a characterization of non-movable prime divisors in X, when X has Picard number at least 6; this is related to the study of birational and divisorial elementar…
Let αbe a Schur root; let h=hcf_v(α(v)) and let p = 1 - < α/h,α/h >. Then a moduli space of representations of dimension vector αis birational to p h by h matrices up to simultaneous conjugacy. Therefore, if h=1,2,3 or 4, then such a moduli space is a rational variety and if h divides 420 it is a stably rational variety.
We show that birational smooth complex projective varieties with numerically effective canonical bundles along the exceptional loci have the same Betti numbers. In particular, birational smooth minimal models share the same Betti numbers. Our methods indicate a link between $p$-adic measure and the minimal model theory.
This is a sequal paper to math.AG/9909021. By using the theory of AZD originated by the author, I prove that for every smooth projective $n$-fold $X$ of general type and every \[ m\geq \lceil\sum_{\ell =1}^{n}\sqrt[\ell]{2} \ell\rceil +1, \] $\mid mK_{X}\mid$ gives a birational rational map from $X$ into a projective space, unless it has a nontrivial (relative dimension is positive) rational fiber space structure whose general fiber is birational to a variety of relatively low degree in a projective space.
Complex projective algebraic varieties with $\mathbb{C}^*$-actions can be thought of as geometric counterparts of birational transformations. In this paper we describe geometrically the birational transformations associated to rational homogeneous varieties endowed with a $\mathbb{C}^*$-action with no proper isotropy subgroups.
Varieties of Sums of Powers describe the additive decompositions of an homogeneous polynomial into powers of linear forms. Despite their long history, going back to Sylvester and Hilbert, few of them are known for special degrees and number of variables. In this paper we aim to understand a general birational behaviour of VSP, if any. To do this we birationally embed these varieties into Grassmannians and prove the rationality, unirationality or rational connectedness of many of those in arbitrary degrees and number of variables.
We define a categorical birational invariant for minimal geometrically rational surfaces with a conic bundle structure over a perfect field via components of a natural semiorthogonal decomposition. Together with the similar known result on del Pezzo surfaces, this provides a categorical birational invariant for geometrically rational surfaces.
In this paper we classify nodal rational non-$\mathbb{Q}$-factorial del Pezzo threefolds of degree 2 which can be $G$-birationally rigid for some subgroup $G\subset \operatorname{Aut}(X)$.
We prove that every log crepant birational morphism between log terminal surfaces is decomposed into log-flopping type divisorial contraction morphisms and log blow-downs. Repeating these two kinds of contractions we reach a minimal log minimal surface from any log minimal surface.
For a minimal $3$-fold $X$ with $K_X\equiv 0$ and a nef and big Weil divisor $L$ on $X$, we investigate the birational geometry inspired by $L$. We prove that $|mL|$ and $|K_X+mL|$ give birational maps for all $m\geq 17$. The result remains true under weaker assumption that $L$ is big and has no stable base components.
According to the classical theorem, every irreducible algebraic variety endowed with a nontrivial rational action of a connected linear algebraic group is birationally isomorphic to a product of another algebraic variety and ${\bf P}^s$ with positive $s$. We show that the classical proof of this theorem actually works only in characteristic $0$ and we give a characteristic free proof of it. To this end we prove and use a characterization of connected linear algebraic groups $G$ with the property that every rational action of $G$ on an irreducible algebraic variety is birationally equivalent to…
In many cases rational surfaces obtained by desingularization of birational dynamical systems are not relatively minimal. We propose a method to obtain coordinates of relatively minimal rational surfaces by using blowing down structure. We apply this method to the study of various integrable or linearizable mappings, including discrete versions of reduced Nahm equations.
This article contains the notes of a graduate course on birational geometry focusing on the minimal model program. Topics covered include singularities, vanishing, nonvanishing, cone and contraction, base point freeness, finite generation, flips, termination, minimal models and Mori fibre spaces.
We study the motivic Grothendieck group of algebraic varieties from the point of view of stable birational geometry. In particular, we obtain a counter-example to a conjecture of M. Kapranov on the rationality of motivic zeta-function.
We prove that every non-trivial structure of a rationally connected fibre space (and so every structure of a Mori-Fano fibre space) on a general (in the sense of Zariski topology) hypersurface of degree $M$ in the $(M+1)$-dimensional projective space for $M\geq 14$ is given by a pencil of hyperplane sections. In particular, the variety $V$ is non-rational and its group of birational self-maps coincide with the group of biregular automorphisms and is therefore trivial. The proof is based on the techniques of the method of maximal singularities and the inversion of adjunction.
For a Zariski general (regular) hypersurface $V$ of degree $M$ in the $(M+1)$-dimensional projective space, where $M$ is at least 16, with at most quadratic singularities of rank at least 13, we give a complete description of the structures of rationally connected (or Fano-Mori) fibre space: every such structure over a positive-dimensional base is a pencil of hyperplane sections. This implies, in particular, that $V$ is non-rational and its groups of birational and biregular automorphisms coincide. The set of non-regular hypersurfaces has codimension at least $\frac12(M-11)(M-10)-10$ in the na…
The decomposition group of an irreducible plane curve $X\subset\mathbb P^2$ is the subgroup $\mathrm{Dec}(X)\subset\mathrm{Bir}(\mathbb P^2)$ of birational maps which restrict to a birational map of $X$. We show that $\mathrm{Dec}(X)$ is generated by its elements of degree $\leq2$ when $X$ is either a conic or rational cubic curve.
For a uniruled projective manifold, we prove that a general rational curve of minimal degree through a general point is uniquely determined by its tangent vector. As applications, among other things we give a new proof, using no Lie theory, of our earlier result that a holomorphic map from a rational homogeneous space of Picard number 1 onto a projective manifold different from the projective space must be a biholomorphic map.
We discuss a relation between the structure of derived categories of smooth projective varieties and their birational properties. We suggest a possible definition of a birational invariant, the derived category analogue of the intermediate Jacobian, and discuss its possible applications to the geometry of prime Fano threefolds and cubic fourfolds.
We prove that the redundant blow-up preserves the finite generation of the Cox ring of a rational surface under a suitable assumption, and we study the birational structure of Mori dream rational surfaces via redundant blow-ups. It turns out that the redundant blow-up completely characterizes birational morphisms of Mori dream rational surfaces with anticanonical Iitaka dimension $0$. As an application, we construct new Mori dream rational surfaces with anticanonical Iitaka dimension $0$ and $-\infty$ of arbitrarily large Picard number.
In this paper, we give a valuation formula for rational top differential forms of function fields in characteristic zero for arbitrary Abhyankar places generalizing the classical valuation at prime divisors. This enables us to define log discrepancies for log pairs for arbitrary Abhyankar places. If the Abhyankar place has dimension greater than zero we restrict rational top differential forms with valuation zero to the residue field of the Abhyankar place, generalizing the classical restriction of a top differential form with a simple pole along a smooth divisor. This opens up the door to gen…
Lecture notes of a course on birational geometry (taught at College de France, Winter 2011, with the support of Fondation Sciences Mathématiques de Paris). Topics covered: introduction into the subject, contractions and extremal rays, pairs and singularities, Kodaira dimension, minimal model program, cone and contraction, vanishing, base point freeness, flips and local finite generation, pl flips and extension theorems, existence of minimal models and Mori fibre spaces, global finite generation, etc.
Motivated by the question of rationality of cubic fourfolds, we show that a cubic X has an associated K3 surface in the sense of Hassett if and only if the variety F of lines on X is birational to a moduli space of sheaves on a K3 surface, but that having F birational to Hilb^2(K3) is more restrictive. We compare the loci in the moduli space of cubics where each condition is satisfied.
Given a surface $S$ and a finite group $G$ of automorphisms of $S$, consider the birational maps $S\dashrightarrow S'$ that commute with the action of $G$. This leads to the notion of a $G$-minimal variety. A natural question arises: for a fixed group $G$, is there a birational $G$-map between two different $G$-minimal surfaces? If no such map exists, the surface is said to be $G$-birationally rigid. This paper determines the $G$-rigidity of the projective plane for every finite subgroup $G\subset\mbox{PGL}_3\left(\mathbb{C}\right)$.
We study birational geometry of Fano varieties, realized as double covers $σ\colon V\to {\mathbb P}^M$, $M\geq 5$, branched over generic hypersurfaces $W=W_{2(M-1)}$ of degree $2(M-1)$. We prove that the only structures of a rationally connected fiber space on $V$ are the pencils-subsystems of the free linear system $|-\frac12 K_V|$. The groups of birational and biregular self-maps of the variety $V$ coincide.
It is proved that on a smooth algebraic variety, fibered into cubic surfaces over the projective line and sufficiently ``twisted'' over the base, there is only one pencil of rational surfaces -- that is, this very pencil of cubics. In particular, this variety is non-rational; moreover, it can not be fibered into rational curves. The proof is obtained by means of the method of maximal singularities.
We prove that the moduli space ${\Cal M}_{g,n}$ of smooth curves of genus $g$ with $n$ marked points is rational for $g=6$ and $1 \le n \le 8$, and it is unirational for $g=8$ and $1 \le n \le 11$, $g=10$ and $1 \le n \le 3$, $g=12$ and $n = 1$.
A Noetherian reduced ring $A$ is called a birational derived splinter if for all proper birational maps $X\to\operatorname{Spec}(A)$, the canonical map $A\to Rf_*\mathcal{O}_X$ splits. In equal characteristic zero this property characterizes rational singularities, but much less can be said in positive or mixed characteristics. In this paper, we prove some fundamental properties of this notion, including the behavior under localization, taking a pure subring, taking direct limit, and along an étale extension. In particular, direct limit of rational singularities in characteristic zero has rati…
This is a report on some of the main developments in birational geometry in the last few years focusing on the minimal model program, Fano varieties, singularities and related topics, in characteristic zero.
We study the Fourier--Mukai numbers of rational elliptic surfaces. As its application, we give an example of a pair of minimal 3-folds with Kodaira dimensions 1, $h^1(\mc O)=h^2(\mc O)=0$ such that they are mutually derived equivalent, deformation equivalent, but not birationally equivalent. It also supplies a counterexample of the birational Torelli problem.
We study automorphism groups and birational automorphism groups of compact complex surfaces. We show that the automorphism group of such surface $X$ is always Jordan, and the birational automorphism group is Jordan unless $X$ is birational to a product of an elliptic and a rational curve.
In this paper we study birational immersions from a very general smooth plane curve to a non-rational surface with $p_g=q=0$ to treat dominant rational maps from a very general surface $X$ of degree$\geq 5$ in ${\mathbb P}^3$ to smooth projective surfaces $Y$. Based on the classification theory of algebraic surfaces, Hodge theory, and deformation theory, we prove that there is no dominant rational map from $X$ to $Y$ unless $Y$ is rational or $Y$ is birational to $X$.
We develop the quadratic technique of proving birational rigidity of Fano-Mori fibre spaces over a higher-dimensional base. As an application, we prove birational rigidity of generic fibrations into Fano double spaces of dimension $M\geqslant 4$ and index one over a rationally connected base of dimension at most $\frac12 (M-2)(M-1)$. An estimate for the codimension of the subset of hypersurfaces of a given degree in the projective space with a positive-dimensional singular set is obtained, which is close to the optimal one.
