Numerically positive line bundles on an Arakelov variety (Q1173823)

We prove a variation on the ``arithmetic ampleness'' result of \textit{H. Gillet} and \textit{C. Soulé} [C.R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. I 307, No. 17, 887-890 (1988; Zbl 0676.14007)], giving a numerical criterion for the existence of arithmetic sections of higher powers of a metrized line bundle on an Arakelov variety. Our result differs from those of \textit{G. Faltings} [Ann. Math., II. Ser. 119, 387-424 (1984; Zbl 0559.14005)] and \textit{H. Gillet} and \textit{C. Soulé} in that many sections of small norm that are linearly independent on the generic fibre are shown to exist, assuming numerical positivity. In the first part, we prove, for concreteness, our result on an arithmetic surface. This allows, furthermore, easy comparison with an entirely similar result for a fibred algebraic surface over a field proved in the second part. Our theorem turns out to be an easy consequence of the ``successive minima'' theorem from Minkowski's geometry of numbers in the number field case and of \textit{K. Mahler}'s non-archimedean transcription of Minkowski [Ann. Math., II. Ser. 42, 488-522 (1941; Zbl 0027.16001)] in the function field case. We use as well, of course, Riemann-Roch theorems in an arithmetic and a geometric context. -- In the final section, we indicate the line of proof for higher dimensions.