Questions tagged [birational-geometry]
Birational geometry is a field of algebraic geometry the goal of which is to determine when two algebraic varieties are isomorphic outside lower-dimensional subsets. This amounts to studying mappings that are given by rational functions rather than polynomials; the map may fail to be defined where the rational functions have poles.
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How many characteristics is a random surface unirational in?
Suppose I have a surface $X$ defined over $\mathbb{Z}$. I am interested in the set $S_X$ of primes $p$ such that $X_{\overline{\mathbb{F}}_p}$ is unirational. If I choose a "random" surface ...
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Which field extensions do not affect Chow groups?
Let $X$ be a (say, smooth projective) variety over a field $k$. For which $K$ it is known that the ("ordinary", that is, not higher) Chow groups of $X$ map onto that of $X_K$ bijectively?
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On a paper of Formanek about $PGL_4$
In his paper "The center of the ring of 4 × 4 generic matrices" (Journal of Algebra, 1980) Formanek shows that, if $V$ is the representation of $PGL_4$ given by simultaneous conjugation of pairs of ...
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Motivic homotopy theory and Noether problem
Let $G$ be a finite group, and let $V$ be a faithful representation of $G$. The Noether problem asks whether $V/G$ is rational (stably rational, retract rational) or not.
To construct ...
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Rationality of a certain real algebraic variety
Let $A_n$ denote the vector space of $n\times n$ antisymmetric matrices over ${\mathbb{Q}}$, where $n$ is even.
Let $A_n^*\subset A_n$ denote the affine ${\mathbb{Q}}$-subvariety of invertible ...
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Are groups in (Var/k, rational maps) necessarily algebraic groups?
Let $RVar$ be the category which has complex algebraic verieties as objects and rational maps as morphisms [Edit: for $RVar$ to be a category, the rational maps have to be dominant].
Let's consider a ...
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When does f-nef imply nef (after twisting?)
For a surjective morphism $f \colon X \to Z$ of smooth projective varieties, a line bundle $L$ on $X$ is $f$-nef if is nef on the fibers of $f$. More precisely, for every curve $C$ that is mapped to a ...
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References for the minimal model program
What are some references for a beginning graduate student in algebraic geometry to learn about the minimal model program? I'm not thinking about entering this field, but rather I just want to know ...
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Why is the Hodge class of \bar{M_g} big and nef?
Let pi: \bar{Mg,1} \to \bar{M_g} be natural projection of compactified moduli stacks of curves and let omega be the relative dualizing sheaf. Then the Hodge class \lambda of \bar{M_g} is the first ...
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Alterations and smooth complete intersections
Let $k$ be an algebraically closed field, and $X$ a projective variety over $k$. Let $i : X\subset \mathbf{P}^d_k$ be a closed immersion into a projective space of high enough dimension.
Is there a ...
user501361
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Finiteness of birational types for targets of algebraic fibrations
Let $X$ be a smooth projective variety. A fibration is a surjective map with connected fibers between projective varieties. Is it true that there's a finite number of birational equivalence classes of ...
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Dimension of orbit versus invariant functions
$\def\CC{\mathbb{C}}$Let $K = \CC(x_1, \ldots, x_n)$ and let $G$ be a countable group of automorphisms of $K$; in the cases I care about, $G \cong \mathbb{Z}$. Then the field of $G$-invariants, $K^G$, ...
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Is an open subscheme of a rationally connected variety, rationally connected?
Let $X$ be a projective, irreducible variety over an algebraically closed field (of characteristic zero) which is rationally connected. Is it true that any open dense subvariety of $X$ is rationally ...
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Simplified treatment of resolutions of complex analytic varieties?
According to the article of Hauser:
The Hironaka theorem on resolution of singularities http://www.ams.org/journals/bull/2003-40-03/S0273-0979-03-00982-0/home.html
The existence of resolution of ...
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An invariance property of rational singularities
Let $X$ be a normal variety over a field of characteristic zero with rational singularities.
If $\pi:Y \to X$ is a birational proper morphism with $Y$ also normal, then does $Y$ also have rational ...
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Progress on Bondal–Orlov derived equivalence conjecture
In their 1995 paper, Bondal and Orlov posed the following conjecture:
If two smooth $n$-dimensional varieties $X$ and $Y$ are related by a flop, then their bounded derived categories of coherent ...
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Blow-up of the plane at $5$ points
If we Blow-up $\mathbb P^2_{\mathbb C}$ at $5$ points $T=\{p_1,\ldots,p_5\}$ we obtain a Del Pezzo surface $X$ of degree $4$. Now take another set of $5$ points $T'=\{q_1,\ldots,q_5\}$ ($T'\neq T$), ...
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When does $\sqrt{a_1} + \cdots + \sqrt{a_k} \in K$ imply $\sqrt{a_1}, \ldots, \sqrt{a_k} \in K$?
Consider $R = \mathbb{Z}[X_1, \ldots, X_k]$, the polynomial ring in $k$ variables over $\mathbb{Z}$, and let $S = \mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{X_1}, \ldots, \sqrt{X_k}]$. Then $S/R$ is an integral extension of ...
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What are quadric bundles?
In Mori program in dimension $3$ there is a class of Mori contractions $\phi: X\to C$ called quadric bundles, where $X$ is a three-dimensional manifold and $C$ is a curve. As far as I understand, such ...
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Explicit descriptions of a flop
I want to know how to describe explicitly the flop of the following flop contraction. Because the construction is so natural and simple, I was wondering such descriptions should already exist in the ...
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Why study unirational and rational varieties?
I am new to the study of unirational and rational varieties, but I want to know the motivation for why mathematicians started to study these conditions. The reasons that I could list to study ...
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Why is proving fully-faithfulness of an integral functor locally analytically sufficient?
More than once I've come across a statement in a paper about derived categories in which it says something to the effect of "in order to prove that $\Phi:D^b(X)\rightarrow D^b(Y)$ is fully-faithful we ...
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Maximally nodal degree 6 Fano threefolds
Let $X$ be a complete intersection of a quadric and a cubic in $\mathbb{P}^5$. In the smooth case it is a so-called Fano threefold of index one and degree six.
I would like to consider the case when $...
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How do I make the components of a Cartier divisor again Cartier divisors?
Let $D$ be an effective Cartier divisor on a normal noetherian scheme $X$. Its irreducible components are codimension $1$ subschemes, i.e. Weil divisors, of $X$ but not necessarily Cartier divisors. I ...
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Status of the Sarkisov program a la Corti
To a birational map $f$ between Mori fiber spaces, one can associate the "Sarkisov degree", a triple $(\mu,\lambda,e)$ which I will not define here. To factor $f$ into a sequence of elementary ...
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Is there a classification of minimal algebraic threefolds?
The minimal model program aims to find a minimal representative in the birational class of a given variety with reasonable singularities. Assuming this has been done, it seems natural to ask what ...
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Automorphism groups of Hirzebruch surfaces
The Hirzebruch surfaces are the $\mathbb{P}^1$ bundles $\mathbb{F_n}$ ($n\geqslant 0$) which can be obtained projectivizing the rank $2$ vector bundles $\mathcal{O}_{\mathbb{P}^1}\oplus \mathcal{O}_{\...
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Obstruction to rationality of del Pezzo surfaces of degree 4
Let $X$ be a del Pezzo surface over a number field $k$. (A del Pezzo surface over $k$ is a smooth, projective, geometrically connected surface whose anti-canonical class $K_X$ is ample.) Let $d := K_X^...
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Hn(X, OX) = 0 for X birational to a regular affine variety?
It is a basic fact that $H^n(X, F) = 0$ if $X$ is noetherian affine, $n > 0$, and $F$ a quasi-coherent sheaf.
If $Y \to X$ is a blow-up of a smooth variety in a smooth center, then then ...
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Appropriate journal to publish a determinantal inequality
I have recently made the following observation:
Let $v_i := (v_{i1}, v_{i2})$, $1 \leq i \leq k$, be non-zero positive elements of $\mathbb{Q}^2$ such that no two of them are proportional. Let $M$...
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Field extensions over which algebraic varieties cannot acquire points
The following fact (slightly reworded here) is proven in this answer:
If $K$ is a purely transcendental extension of an infinite¹ field $k$, then whenever a separated scheme $X$ of finite type over $...
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Crepant resolutions of cDV singularities?
Compound Du Val 3-fold singularities form a good class of singularities in 3-fold singularity theory. I would like to know which singularities admit crepant resolutions. If I remember correctly, $cA_{...
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Does a torus action with isolated fixed points imply rational?
Suppose that $X$ is a smooth projective variety $/\mathbb{C}$ with a $\mathbb{C}^{*}$-action with isolated fixed points. Must $X$ be rational?
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Application of MMP in other branches of algebraic geometry
I'm learning minimal model program (MMP) recently. For a projective variety $X$, following MMP, we can do a sequence of birational transformations making $K_X$ nef or to a Mori fiber space.
My ...
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Push-forward of nef divisors via finite morphisms
Let $f:X\rightarrow Y$ be a finite morphism between smooth projective varieties, and let $D$ be an effective nef but not ample divisor on $X$.
Consider the divisor $f_{*}D$ on $Y$. Is $f_{*}D$ nef ...
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A characterization of the blow-up
It is well-known that there is a universal characterization of blow-ups. However, this one is not so easy to use. According to Hartshorne-Theorem II.8.24. The blow-up of a nonsingular $X$ along a ...
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An explicit negative solution to the Lüroth problem for non-algebraically closed fields
Let $\mathsf{k}$ be a field of characteristic $0$, and consider $\mathsf{k}(x,y)$.
If $\mathsf{k}$ is algebraically closed, then every field $L$ such that the inclusion $\mathsf{k} \subset L \subset \...
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Cones, monoids, and the space of (very) ample divisors
An interesting and useful tool to study a projective variety is its ample cone. Understanding the structure of this cone reveals information about the variety, and it is an isomorphism-invariant so ...
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Vanishing theorem for big divisors
Let $X$ be a projective, smooth variety over $\mathbb{C}$, and let $D$ be a irreducible, big Cartier divisor(notice, I do not assume nefness). Then is it true that $${\rm{H}}^1(X, K_X + D) = 0\quad?$$
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How to construct log-canonical (or Calabi-Yau), non-Cohen-Macaulay singularities of low codimensions?
(EDIT 07/06/11: although the question has not been settled definitely, Sándor's excellent answer and the comments by Angelo and ulrich have highlighted many potential obstructions to the constructions ...
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Pull-back divisor being Cartier
Let $\pi \colon X \rightarrow Y$ be a projective morphism with connected fibers between normal quasi-projective varieties. Let $N$ be a $\mathbb{Q}$-Cartier divisor on $Y$ so that $\pi^*(N)$ is ...
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Is there a purely inseparable covering $\mathbb{A}^2 \to K$ of a Kummer surface $K$ over $\mathbb{F}_{p^2}$?
Let $E_i\!: y_i^2 = x_i^3 + a_4x_i + a_6$ be two copies ($i = 1$, $2$) of a supersingular elliptic curve over a finite field $\mathbb{F}_{p^2}$, for odd prime $p > 3$. Consider the Kummer surface $...
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Degree of equations of secant varieties of Veronese varieties
Let $Sec_r(V)$ be the $r$-secant variety of a Veronse variety $V\subset\mathbb{P}^N$, that is
$$Sec_r(V) = \bigcup_{p_1,...,p_r\in V}\left\langle p_1,...,p_r\right\rangle\subset\mathbb{P}^N$$
where $...
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Can one prove vanishing of higher direct images fiber-wise?
Let $\pi:X\to Y$ be a proper map of algebraic varieties (over $\mathbb C$) which is a bi-rational equivalence.
are the following statements equivalent?
The derived direct image of $O_X$ is $O_Y$.
...
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Proving a variety is not unirational
It is known that if a variety is unirational then it is rationally connected. However, there are no known examples of rationally connected varieties which are not unirational. In these notes, at the ...
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Multiplication maps for big line bundles
In Birational Geometry of Algebraic Varieties, Kollar and Mori write that for a line bundle "being big is essentially the birational version of being ample" (page 67). Recall that a line ...
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Pencils on del Pezzo surfaces
Let $X$ be the blow-up of $\mathbb{P}^2$ at three general points $p_1,p_2,p_3$, that is a del Pezzo surface of degree six, and let $\pi_i:X\rightarrow\mathbb{P}^1$ be the morphism induced by the ...
user114198
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Does a birational involution of C^n always have a fixed point?
The title describes completely the question.
For n=1 it is an easy exercise. For n=2 the statement is still true, and depends on the classification of birational involutions of P^2 (see e.g. http://...
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Number of rational points over finite fields mod $q$ is birational invariant
I heard that if $\mathbf F_q$ is a finite field, $X, Y$ are birational smooth proper variety over $\mathbf F_q$, then $\#(X(\mathbf F_q)) \equiv \#(Y(\mathbf F_q)) \pmod q$, and I heard that the proof ...
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Log Calabi-Yau variety diffeomorphic to an algebraic torus
Let $U$ be a complex affine log Calabi-Yau variety, which I take to mean a smooth affine variety which admits a compactification in a smooth projective variety $X$ with an snc anti-canonical ...
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