Related papers: Even sets of $(-4)$-curves on rational surface

We prove that any non-isotrivial elliptic K3 surface over an algebraically closed field $k$ of arbitrary characteristic contains infinitely many rational curves. In the case when $\mathrm{char}(k)\neq 2,3$, we prove this result for any…

Here is a square problem: in a unit square, is there a point with four rational distances to the vertices? A probability argument suggests a negative answer. This paper proves several special cases of the square problem: if the point sits…

We address the problem of the maximal finite number of real points of a real algebraic curve (of a given degree and, sometimes, genus) in the projective plane. We improve the known upper and lower bounds and construct close to optimal…

Using a quartic surface and its rational curves we can give an infinite number of integer hexahedra; these are 6 sided 3d solids, each face a trapezoid, with all sides and diagonals having intger lengths.

We study the set $R$ of nonplanar rational curves of degree $d<q+2$ on a smooth Hermitian surface $X$ of degree $q+1$ defined over an algebraically closed field of characteristic $p>0$, where $q$ is a power of $p$. We prove that $R$ is the…

For every $d\geq 2$, we construct a subset $D\subseteq \{1,2,\dots,n\}^d$ of size $n-o(n)$ such that every affine hyperplane of $\mathbb{R}^d$ intersects $D$ in at most $d$ points, and every hypersphere of $\mathbb{R}^n$ intersects $D$ in…

We study equisingular deformation problems for curves and surfaces in algebraic families, with particular emphasis on situations where nodal behavior is no longer generic. Extending classical Severi theory, we develop deformation--theoretic…

We show that the maximal number of singular points of a normal quartic surface $X \subset \mathbb{P}^3_K$ defined over an algebraically closed field $K$ of characteristic 2 is at most 12, if the minimal resolution of $X$ is not a…

Let X be a smooth quartic surface not containing lines, defined over a number field K. We prove that there are only finitely many bitangents to X which are defined over K. This result can be interpreted as saying that a certain surface,…

A conjecture of Coleman implies that only finitely many quaternion algebras over the rational numbers can be the endomorphism $\mathbf{Q}$-algebras of abelian surfaces over the complex numbers which can be defined over $\mathbf{Q}$. One may…

In this paper we obtain an explicit formula for the number of curves in a compact complex surface $X$ (passing through the right number of generic points), that has up to one node and one singularity of codimension $k$, provided the total…

We introduce Kummer surfaces X=Km(CxC) with the group scheme G=mu_2 acting on the self-product of the rational cuspidal curve in characteristic two. The resulting quotients are normal surfaces having a configuration of sixteen rational…

We show that for every $k\in\mathbb{Z}_+$, with $k\equiv_4 1$, the very general Enriques surface admits rational curves of arithmetic genus $k$ with $\phi$-invariant equal to 2.

We consider flat families of reduced curves on a smooth surface S such that each member C has the same number of singularities of fixed singularity types and the corresponding (locally closed) subscheme H of the Hilbert scheme of S. We are…

We study surfaces of general type $S$ with $p_g=0$ and $K^2=3$ having an involution $i$ such that the bicanonical map of $S$ is not composed with $i$. It is shown that, if $S/i$ is not rational, then $S/i$ is birational to an Enriques…

Let X be a projective variety which is covered by a family of rational curves of minimal degree. The classic bend-and-break argument of Mori asserts that if x and y are two general points, then there are at most finitely many curves in that…

We give an upper bound for the degree of rational curves in a family that covers a given birational ruled surface in projective space. The upper bound is stated in terms of the degree, sectional genus and arithmetic genus of the surface. We…

It is a classical result that there are $12$ (irreducible) rational cubic curves through $8$ generic points in $\mathbb{P}_{\mathbb{C}}^2$, but little is known about the non-generic cases. The space of $8$-point configurations is…

We study nodal quintic surfaces with an even set of 16 nodes as analogues of singular Kummer surfaces. The interpretation of the natural double cover of an even 16-nodal quintic as a certain Fano variety of lines could be viewed as a…

We show, in this second part, that the maximal number of singular points of a quartic surface $X \subset \mathbb{P}^3_K$ defined over an algebraically closed field $K$ of characteristic 2 is at most 14, and that, if we have 14…