Related papers: The rationality problem for forms of $\overline{M_…
We study points and 0-cycles on del Pezzo surfaces defined over a field K of characteristic 0, with emphasis on cubic surfaces. We prove that a cubic surface that admits a point defined over a field extension of K of degree coprime to 3…
We address the question of the degree of unirational parameterizations of degree four and degree three del Pezzo surfaces. Specifically we show that degree four del Pezzo surfaces over finite fields admit degree two parameterizations and…
Let $f(x)=x^5+ax^3+bx^2+cx \in \Z[x]$ and consider the hypersurface of degree five given by the equation \cal{V}_{f}: f(p)+f(q)=f(r)+f(s). Under the assumption $b\neq 0$ we show that there exists $\Q$-unirational elliptic surface contained…
We exhibit new examples of rational cubic fourfolds, parametrized by a countably infinite union of codimension-two subvarieties in the moduli space. Our examples are fibered in sextic del Pezzo surfaces over the projective plane; they are…
Let W -> X be a real smooth projective threefold fibred by rational curves. Koll\'ar proved that if W(R) is orientable a connected component N of W(R) is essentially either a Seifert fibred manifold or a connected sum of lens spaces. Let k…
Let $X$ be a del Pezzo surface over the function field of a complex curve. We study the behavior of rational points on $X$ leading to bounds on the counting function in Geometric Manin's Conjecture. A key tool is the Movable Bend and Break…
A conjecture of Manin predicts the distribution of rational points on Fano varieties. We provide a framework for proofs of Manin's conjecture for del Pezzo surfaces over imaginary quadratic fields, using universal torsors. Some of our tools…
In this paper the height zeta function associated to a certain singular del Pezzo surface of degree four is studied. If $U$ denotes the open subset formed by deleting the unique line from this surface, then an asymptotic formula for the…
A conjecture of Manin predicts the asymptotic distribution of rational points of bounded height on Fano varieties. In this paper we use conic bundles to obtain correct lower bounds or a wide class of surfaces over number fields for which…
Working over a perfect field, I classify normal del Pezzo surfaces with base number one that contain a nonrational singularity. They form a huge infinite hierarchy; contractions of ruled surfaces lie on top of it. Descending the hierarchy…
We give the first evidence for a conjecture that a general, index-one, Fano hypersurface is not unirational: (i) a general point of the hypersurface is contained in no rational surface ruled, roughly, by low-degree rational curves, and (ii)…
We determine all configurations of rational double points that occur on RDP del Pezzo surfaces of arbitrary degree and Picard rank over an algebraically closed field $k$ of arbitrary characteristic ${\rm char}(k)=p \geq 0$, generalizing…
We prove the irreducibility of moduli spaces of rational curves on a general del Pezzo threefold of Picard rank $1$ and degree $1$. As corollaries, we confirm Geometric Manin's conjecture and enumerativity of certain Gromov-Witten…
For any number field k, upper bounds are established for the number of k-rational points of bounded height on non-singular del Pezzo surfaces defined over k, which are equipped with suitable conic bundle structures over k.
Let $X$ be an algebraic variety, defined over the rationals. This paper gives upper bounds for the number of rational points on $X$, with height at most $B$, for the case in which $X$ is a curve or a surface. In the latter case one excludes…
We study the arithmetic of del Pezzo surfaces $Y$ of degree 2 over a function field, and in particular, the cokernel of the homomorphism from the Picard group to the Galois-invariants of the geometric Picard group $\operatorname{Pic} Y…
If $X$ is a singular del Pezzo surface of degree $d$ over a finite field $\mathbb{F}_{q}$ with only rational double point singularities, does there always exist a smooth $\mathbb{F}_{q}$-point on $X$? We show that this is true for $d\geq 3$…
Yanchevski\u{i} had asked whether conic bundle surfaces over $\mathbf{P}^1_k$ are unirational when $k$ is a finite field. We give a partial answer to his question by showing that for quasi-finite fields $k$ (e.g. finite fields) a regular…
We prove the Kawamata-Viehweg vanishing theorem for surfaces of del Pezzo type over perfect fields of positive characteristic $p>5$. As a consequence, we show that klt threefold singularities over a perfect base field of characteristic…
This paper surveys recent progress towards the Manin conjecture for (singular and non-singular) del Pezzo surfaces. To illustrate some of the techniques available, an upper bound of the expected order of magnitude is established for a…