On \(\mathbb Q\)-conic bundles (Q935905)

A \(\mathbb Q\)-conic bundle is a projective morphism \(f:X\to Z\) from a threefold to a surface such that \(X\) is normal with terminal singularities, \(f_*\mathcal O _X= \mathcal O_Z\), all fibers are \(1\)-dimensional and \(-K_X\) is \(f\)-ample. \(\mathbb Q\)-conic bundles naturally arise in the context of the Minimal Model Program when classifying threefolds with negative Kodaira dimension. In this paper the authors study in detail the geometry of \(\mathbb Q\)-conic bundles. In particular they show that the singularities of the base surface \(Z\) are Du Val singularities of type A. When the singular fiber is irreducible and the base surface is singular, they obtain a complete classification of \(\mathbb Q\)-conic bundles.