Related papers: Rationality proofs by curve counting

We prove that there exist rational but not uniformly rational smooth algebraic varieties. The proof is based on computing a certain numerical obstruction developed in the case of compactifications of affine spaces. We show that for some…

We study a particular class of rationally connected manifolds, $X\subset \p^N$, such that two general points $x,x' \in X$ may be joined by a conic contained in $X$. We prove that these manifolds are Fano, with $b_2\leq 2$. Moreover, a…

We investigate the possible homological classes of rational curves on the moduli space $X_n=\bar{\mathcal{M}_{0,n}}$ of rational nodal curves with $n$ marked points. In the case of $X_5$ and $X_6$ the relevant homology classes belong to…

In this paper we compute the number of rational curves with one node passing through a given number of points, lines and tangent to a given number of planes in $\mathbb{P}^3$.

We study real double covers of $\mathbb P^1\times\mathbb P^2$ branched over a $(2,2)$-divisor, which have the structure of a conic bundle threefold with smooth quartic discriminant curve via the second projection. In each isotopy class of…

Rational pairs generalize the notion of rational singularities to reduced pairs $(X,D)$. In this paper we deal with the problem of determining whether a normal variety $X$ has a rationalizing divisor, i.e. a reduced divisor $D$ such that…

Let $X \subset \mathbb{P}(w_0, w_1, w_2, w_3)$ be a quasismooth well-formed weighted projective hypersurface and let $L = lcm(w_0,w_1,w_2,w_3)$. We characterize when $X$ is rational under the assumption that $L$ divides $deg(X)$ by…

We shall prove that the threefold studied in the paper "Remarks on an Example of K. Ueno" by F. Campana is unirational. This gives an affirmative answer to a question posed in the paper above and also in the book by K. Ueno, "Classification…

A rational triangle is a triangle with rational side lengths. We consider three different families of rational triangles having a fixed side and whose vertices are rational points in the plane. We display a one-to-one correspondence between…

We study the set of rational curves of a certain topological type in general members of certain families of Calabi-Yau threefolds. For some families we investigate to what extent it is possible to conclude that this set is finite. For other…

The number of rational points of a plane non-singular algebraic curve X defined over a finite field is computed, provided that the generic point of X is not an inflexion and that X is Frobenius non-classical with respect to conics.

Given a smooth cubic hypersurface $X$ over a finite field of characteristic greater than 3 and two generic points on $X$, we use a function field analogue of the Hardy-Littlewood circle method to obtain an asymptotic formula for the number…

Let $X$ be a projective variety and let $C$ be a rational normal curve on $X$. We compute the normal bundle of $C$ in a general complete intersection of hypersurfaces of sufficiently large degree in $X$. As a result, we establish the…

Let U be an open subset of a unirational variety (or more generally of a separably rationally connected variety). We prove that there is rational curve C in U such that the fundamental group of C surjects onto the fundamental group of U.…

We give a formula computing the number of one-nodal rational curves that pass through an appropriate collection of constraints in a complex projective space. We combine the methods and results from three different papers.

We give a criterion for a nef divisor $D$ to be semiample on a Calabi--Yau threefold $X$ when $D^3=0=c_2(X)\cdot D$ and $c_3(X)\neq 0$. As a direct consequence, we show that on such a variety $X$, if $D$ is strictly nef and $\nu(D)\neq 1$,…

These notes are intended as an easy-to-read supplement to part of the background material presented in my talks on enumerative geometry. In particular, the numbers $n_3$ and $n_4$ of plane rational cubics through eight points and of plane…

We obtain a recursive formula for the number of rational degree $d$ curves in $\mathbb{P}^3$, whose image lies in a $\mathbb{P}^2$, passing through $r$ lines and $s$ points, where $r + 2s = 3d+2$. This can be viewed as a family version of…

We construct families of curves which provide counterexamples for a uniform boundedness question. These families generalize those studied previously by several authors. We show, in detail, what fails in the argument of Caporaso, Harris,…

Let X be a projective variety which is covered by rational curves, for instance a Fano manifold over the complex numbers. In this setup, characterization and classification problems lead to the natural question: "Given two points on X, how…