Let $X$ be a smooth projective algebraic variety over a number field $k$ and $P$ in $X(k)$. In 2007, the second author conjectured that, in a precise sense, if rational points on $X$ are dense enough, then the best rational approximations to $P$ must lie on a curve. We present a strategy for deducing a slightly weaker conjecture from Vojta's conjecture, and execute this strategy for the full conjecture for split surfaces.
Given a smooth projective variety $X$ over a number field $k$ and $P\in X(k)$, the first author conjectured that in a precise sense, any sequence that approximates $P$ sufficiently well must lie on a rational curve. We prove this conjecture for smooth split toric surfaces conditional on Vojta's conjecture. More generally, we show that if $X$ is a $\mathbb{Q}$-factorial terminal split toric variety of arbitrary dimension, then $P$ is better approximated by points on a rational curve than by any Zariski dense sequence.
Upper and lower bounds, of the expected order of magnitude, are obtained for the number of rational points of bounded height on any quartic del Pezzo surface over $\mathbb{Q}$ that contains a conic defined over $\mathbb{Q}$.
Let $\mathscr{E}\rightarrow\mathbb{P}^1_\mathbb{Q}$ be a non-trivial rational elliptic surface over $\mathbb{Q}$ with base $\mathbb{P}^1_\mathbb{Q}$ (with a section). We conjecture that any non-trivial elliptic surface has a Zariski-dense set of $\mathbb{Q}$-rational points. In this paper we work on solving the conjecture in case $\mathscr{E}$ is rational by means of geometric and analytic methods. First, we show that for $\mathscr{E}$ rational, the set $\mathscr{E}(\mathbb{Q})$ is Zariski-dense when $\mathscr{E}$ is isotrivial with non-zero $j$-invariant and when $\mathscr{E}$ is non-isotrivi…
Consider the scheme parametrizing non-constant morphisms from a fixed projective curve to a projective surface. There is a rational map between this scheme and the Chow variety of $1$-cycles on the surface. We prove that, if the curve is non-singular, then this rational map is a morphism. As a consequence, we obtain that, if the surface is rational and we fix a divisor class containing a non-singular rational curve, then the scheme parametrizing rational curves on this class is irreducible. Further, if the class has non-negative self-intersection, then the scheme of rational curves has expecte…
We classify Galois actions on Picard lattices of del Pezzo surfaces of degrees 1,2, and 3 giving rise to minimal surfaces with no cohomological obstructions to stable rationality.
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.
We classify webs of minimal degree rational curves on surfaces and give a criterion for webs being hexagonal. In addition, we classify Neron-Severi lattices of real weak del Pezzo surfaces. These two classifications are related to root subsystems of E8.
We give explicit blowups of the projective plane in positive characteristic that contain smooth rational curves of arbitrarily negative self-intersection, showing that the Bounded Negativity Conjecture fails even for rational surfaces in positive characteristic.
We classify, up to some lattice-theoretic equivalence, all possible configurations of rational double points that can appear on a surface whose minimal resolution is a complex Enriques surface.
We prove a general specialization theorem which implies stable irrationality for a wide class of quadric surface bundles over rational surfaces. As an application, we solve with the exception of two cases, the stable rationality problem for any very general complex projective quadric surface bundle over the projective plane, given by a symmetric matrix of homogeneous polynomials. Both exceptions degenerate over a plane sextic curve and the corresponding double cover is a K3 surface.
For any positive integer $r$, we construct a smooth complex projective rational surface which has at least $r$ real forms not isomorphic over $\mathbb{R}$.
