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Let $X$ be a smooth projective variety. Is there a criterion (apart from the definition) for the existence of a projective curve $C$ and a proper surjective morphism $\pi:X \to C$?

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    $\begingroup$ Note that you can always blow up $X$ so that such a map $\pi$ exists, even with $C=\mathbb{P}^1$ and very mildly singular fibers (a "Lefschetz pencil"). This is enough for many applications, since for example cohomology of $X$ injects into the cohomology of the blow-up. $\endgroup$ Jan 17, 2013 at 19:40
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    $\begingroup$ Just for the record, the fact that you can choose $C=\mathbb P^1$ is not too deep since you can just map $C$ to $\mathbb P^1$ and replace $\pi$ with the composition. $\endgroup$ Jan 17, 2013 at 22:05
  • $\begingroup$ mathoverflow.net/questions/35429/… $\endgroup$
    – M P
    Jan 18, 2013 at 11:44

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Another interesting theorem in this direction is Castelnuovo-de Franchis theorem. It says that if you have two linearly independent holomorphic 1-forms $\omega_1,\omega_2$ with $\omega_1\wedge\omega_2=0$ on $X$, then there exists a morphism $f:X\to C$ with $C$ a smooth curve of genus at least 2 and forms $\omega_i'$ on $C$ such that $\omega_i=f^*\omega_i'$.

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  • $\begingroup$ This is essentially saying that the condition below holds for the canonical divisor $D=K_X$ and then the induced morphism is a pluricanonical morphism, so $C$ is the canonical model and hence necessarily of general type. $\endgroup$ May 11, 2016 at 15:37
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Yes. This is equivalent to the existence of a non-trivial divisor $D$ on $X$ such that there exists two distinct members of the linear system $|D|\ni D_1,D_2$ that are disjoint: $D_1\cap D_2=\emptyset$.

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By a theorem of Gromov and Schoen if the fundamental group of X is a proper amalgamated product or HNN extension then X maps surjectively to a curve .

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  • $\begingroup$ Furthermore, $X$ maps surjectively to a hyperbolic orbicurve. $\endgroup$
    – Misha
    Jan 17, 2013 at 23:25

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