Topological rigidity of algebraic \(\mathbb{P}_3\)-bundles over curves (Q2568775)

A very general question is: given a projective complex manifold, find all projective complex structures on the underlying topological manifold. If the manifold is a projective bundle over a curve it is sometimes possible to answer this question, and here some more cases are settled. It is shown that if \(X\) is a projective algebraic manifold homeomorphic to \({\mathbb{P}}(E)\), where \(E\) is a vector bundle of rank~\(4\) and degree~\(k\) over a smooth projective curve \(C\) of genus \(g\geq 2\), then \(X\) is \({\mathbb{P}}(E^{\prime})\) for a vector bundle \(E^{\prime}\) of rank~\(4\) and degree~\(k^{\prime}\) over a curve \(C^{\prime}\) of genus~\(g\), and \(k\equiv\pm k^{\prime}\pmod 4\). For \(g<2\) still something can be said. If \(g=1\) the same conclusion holds provided one assumes that \(K_X\) is not nef. If \(g=0\) and \(E={\mathcal O}_{{\mathbb{P}}^1}^{\oplus 3}\oplus{\mathcal O}_{{\mathbb{P}}^1}(k)\) then either \(X\) is of general type, or \(X\) is \({\mathbb{P}}\big({\mathcal O}_{{\mathbb{P}}^1}\oplus{\mathcal O}_{{\mathbb{P}}^1}(a) \oplus{\mathcal O}_{{\mathbb{P}}^1}(b)\oplus{\mathcal O}_{{\mathbb{P}}^1}(c)\big)\) with \(a+b+c\equiv \pm k\pmod 4\), or \(X\) is \({\mathbb{P}}(F)\) where \(F\) is a rank~\(2\) bundle on \({\mathbb{P}}^3\) with \(4c_2(F)-c_1^2(F)=0\) and \(k\equiv 0\pmod 4\). The proof goes by showing that \(K_X\) is not nef, so there must be an elementary Mori contraction. For numerical reasons it cannot contract a surface unless the image of the contraction is a curve, and it cannot be the blow-up of a subvariety of codimension~\(2\). The remaining cases are those in the statement of the theorem.