On the rationality of complex homology 2-cells: I (Q1104375)

In this first part of a 2-part paper, the following theorem is proved: `Let X be a non-singular, projective surface /\({\mathbb{C}}\) with geometric genus, \(p_ g\), equal to 0. Let D be a (not necessarily connected) normal crossing divisor on X all of whose connected components are simply-connected. Suppose the irreducible components of D generate the divisor class group, Pic(X), of X. Then X is not a surface of general type.' In the part II of this paper, it will be proved that X is a rational surface. This answers affirmatively a question of Van de Ven whether a non-singular, topologically contractible affine surface /\({\mathbb{C}}\) is rational. The proof uses essentially the inequality between logarithmic Chern- numbers of a non-complete, non-singular surface proved by Y. Miyaoka. In addition to Miyaoka's inequality several usual techniques to deal with unimodular trees of non-singular rational curves are introduced. As corollaries of the theorem, the following results are proved: (i) The Chow-group of a contractible, non-singular surface is trivial; (ii) All algebraic vector bundles on a non-singular, contractible surface /\({\mathbb{C}}\) are trivial. This generalizes the famous result of C. S. Seshadri on the triviality of algebraic vector bundles on \({\mathbb{C}}^ 2\).