Compactifications of \({\mathbb{C}}\) 3. I (Q1106284)

This paper deals with smooth connected compactifications X of \({\mathbb{C}}^ 3\) with irreducible divisor at infinity Y. First: is such an X projective? Partial answers are given (the answer was subsequently proved to be yes by \textit{S. Kosarew} and the first author). It is then shown that any projective (hence any) such X is a Fano 3-fold. Its index \(r\in \{1,2,3,4\}\). When \(r\neq 1\), all pairs (X,Y) are classified: when \(r=3\) or 4, just the classical compactifications exist; when \(r=2\), just the new compactification of M. Furushima exist. [When Y is normal, this was obtained already by \textit{M. Furushima}, who could also exclude the existence of an X with \(r=1\), cf. Proc. Japan Acad., Ser. A 64, No.1, 25- 26 (1988; see the preceding review)] \textit{T. Peternell} deals with the case of non-normal Y in a subsequent paper [part II of this paper].