Uniruled varieties with split tangent bundle (Q2466798)

This paper deals with uniruled projective manifolds whose tangent bundles split as a direct sum of two vector bundles. Its goal is to study special cases of the following conjecture, due to Beauville: Let \(X\) be a compact Kähler manifold such that \(T_X = V_1 \oplus V_2\) and let \(\mu:\widetilde X \to X\) be the universal covering of \(X\). Then \(\widetilde X \simeq Y_1 \times Y_2\), with \(\dim Y_i = rk V_i\). Moreover, if \(V_i\) is integrable, then, up to an automorphism of \(\widetilde X\) we have \(\mu^*V_i \simeq p^*_{Y_i}T_{Y_i}\). \noindent This conjecture has been studied by [\textit{A. Beauville}, in: Complex analysis and algebraic geometry. A volume in memory of Michael Schneider. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. 61--70 (2000; Zbl 1001.32010)], \textit{S. Druel} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 522, 161--171 (2000; Zbl 0946.14005)], \textit{F. Campana} and \textit{T. Peternell} [Math. Z. 241, No. 3, 613--637 (2002; Zbl 1065.14054)], \textit{M. Brunella, J. V. Pereira} and \textit{F. Touzet} [Bull. Soc. Math. Fr. 134, No. 2, 241--252 (2006; Zbl 1187.32018)]. In this last paper, which deals with the case in which \(V_1\) has rank one, a link between the integrability of \(V_2\) and the existence of rational curves along the foliation \(V_1\) is estabilished. Along this line, in the paper under review, it is proved (Theorem 1.3) that if a projective manifold with split tangent bundle is not uniruled, the the summands \(V_1\) and \(V_2\) of the tangent bundle are integrable. Then, in the case of rationally connected manifolds (which are simply connected) it is proved (Theorem 1.4) that the integrability of one of the summands yields that \(X\) is a product and that the summands are the pullback of the tangent bundles of the factors. The last part of the paper deals with projective uniruled fourfolds whose tangent bundle splits as a sum of two rank-two vector bundles, proving that the conjecture holds if the two vector bundles are integrable. The proof uses as an important ingredient the classification of birational Mori contraction of smooth fourfolds.