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Jérémy Blanc
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Let $X\subset \mathbb{P}^3$ be an irreducible quartic surface, defined over an algebraically closed field $k$. Suppose that $X$ is rational (i.e. birational to $\mathbb{P}^2$). Is is true that $X$ has one of the following type of singularities?

a) a point $q\in X$ of multiplicity $4$ (hence $X$ is a cone over a rational quartic curve).

b) a point $q\in X$ of multiplicity $3$ (hence the projection away from $q$ gives a birational map $X\dashrightarrow \mathbb{P}^2$).

c) a curve of singular points.

It seems to me that these are the only possible cases, as otherwised) a double point $q\in X$ and a double line $l$ in the canonicalexceptional divisor would be trivial. For instance, if $X$ has only isolated$E_q\simeq \mathbb{P}^2$ of $q$ edit: new case added

e) a double pointspoint $q\in X$, a double point $q_1$ in the canonicalexceptional divisor is trivial. But maybe one could have infinitely near curves$E_q\simeq \mathbb{P}^2$ of singularities that make$q$ and a double line $l$ in the canonicalexceptional divisor non-effective? Is it possible to get a rational surface?$E_{q_1}\simeq \mathbb{P}^2$ of $q_1$ edit: new case added

It seems to me that this should be quite classical. I looked overfrom the internet for "rational quartic surfaces" and found a lot of examples and some articlesclassification of classifications, but I did not find the answer toNoether indicated by abx in

M. Noether, "Ueber die rationalen Flächen vierter Ordnung" (Mathematische Annalen, 1189, page 546-571)

that these are the above question. Thanks for your helponly possible cases. Is there a modern proof of this ?

Let $X\subset \mathbb{P}^3$ be an irreducible quartic surface, defined over an algebraically closed field $k$. Suppose that $X$ is rational (i.e. birational to $\mathbb{P}^2$). Is is true that $X$ has one of the following type of singularities?

a) a point $q\in X$ of multiplicity $4$ (hence $X$ is a cone over a rational quartic curve).

b) a point $q\in X$ of multiplicity $3$ (hence the projection away from $q$ gives a birational map $X\dashrightarrow \mathbb{P}^2$).

c) a curve of singular points.

It seems to me that these are the only possible cases, as otherwise the canonical divisor would be trivial. For instance, if $X$ has only isolated double points, the canonical divisor is trivial. But maybe one could have infinitely near curves of singularities that make the canonical divisor non-effective? Is it possible to get a rational surface?

It seems to me that this should be quite classical. I looked over the internet for "rational quartic surfaces" and found a lot of examples and some articles of classifications, but I did not find the answer to the above question. Thanks for your help.

Let $X\subset \mathbb{P}^3$ be an irreducible quartic surface, defined over an algebraically closed field $k$. Suppose that $X$ is rational (i.e. birational to $\mathbb{P}^2$). Is is true that $X$ has one of the following type of singularities?

a) a point $q\in X$ of multiplicity $4$ (hence $X$ is a cone over a rational quartic curve).

b) a point $q\in X$ of multiplicity $3$ (hence the projection away from $q$ gives a birational map $X\dashrightarrow \mathbb{P}^2$).

c) a curve of singular points.

d) a double point $q\in X$ and a double line $l$ in the exceptional divisor $E_q\simeq \mathbb{P}^2$ of $q$ edit: new case added

e) a double point $q\in X$, a double point $q_1$ in the exceptional divisor $E_q\simeq \mathbb{P}^2$ of $q$ and a double line $l$ in the exceptional divisor $E_{q_1}\simeq \mathbb{P}^2$ of $q_1$ edit: new case added

It seems from the classification of Noether indicated by abx in

M. Noether, "Ueber die rationalen Flächen vierter Ordnung" (Mathematische Annalen, 1189, page 546-571)

that these are the only possible cases. Is there a modern proof of this ?

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Jérémy Blanc
  • 7.7k
  • 1
  • 28
  • 54

Singularities of rational quartic surfaces

Let $X\subset \mathbb{P}^3$ be an irreducible quartic surface, defined over an algebraically closed field $k$. Suppose that $X$ is rational (i.e. birational to $\mathbb{P}^2$). Is is true that $X$ has one of the following type of singularities?

a) a point $q\in X$ of multiplicity $4$ (hence $X$ is a cone over a rational quartic curve).

b) a point $q\in X$ of multiplicity $3$ (hence the projection away from $q$ gives a birational map $X\dashrightarrow \mathbb{P}^2$).

c) a curve of singular points.

It seems to me that these are the only possible cases, as otherwise the canonical divisor would be trivial. For instance, if $X$ has only isolated double points, the canonical divisor is trivial. But maybe one could have infinitely near curves of singularities that make the canonical divisor non-effective? Is it possible to get a rational surface?

It seems to me that this should be quite classical. I looked over the internet for "rational quartic surfaces" and found a lot of examples and some articles of classifications, but I did not find the answer to the above question. Thanks for your help.