Real algebraic threefolds. III. Conic bundles (Q1296186)

The article under review is a sequel to part I and II of this work [\textit{J. Kollár}, Collect. Math. 49, No. 2-3, 335-360 (1998; Zbl 0948.14013) and J. Am. Math. Soc. 12, No. 1, 33-83 (1999; see the preceding review Zbl 0964.14014)] on the topological study of real algebraic varieties. In the article under review the author studies the structure of a particular type of real algebraic threefolds, whose complex counterpart occupies one significant class of algebraic varieties from the viewpoint of the minimal model theory; namely, threefolds \(X\) admitting a surjective morphism \(X \to S\) onto an algebraic surface \(S\), especially a \textit{rational} algebraic surface \(S\), whose general fiber is isomorphic to the projective line \(\mathbb P^1\). The main theorem (theorem 1.1) asserts the following: Let \(X\) be a smooth projective real algebraic threefold \(X\) with orientable \(X(\mathbb R)\), endowed with a surjective morphism \(X\to S\) onto a real algebraic surface \(S\) whose general fiber is a rational curve, then a connected component \(M\) of \(X(\mathbb R)\) is homeomorphic to \(N \# a \mathbb R\mathbb P^3 \# b(S^1 \times S^2)\) for some \(a\), \(b \geq 0\), where the topological type of \(N\) is either one of the following two types: (1) `Seifert fibered' over a topological surface, or (2) the connected sum of `lens spaces'. Moreover, if \(S\) is assumed to be a rational surface, then \(N\) is either one of the following: (3) Seifert fibered over a non-orientable surface with at most 6 multiple fibers, (4) Seifert fibered over \(S^2\) or \(S^1 \times S^1\) with at most 6 multiple fibers, or (5) connected sum of at most 6 lens spaces. Contents of the paper: \ 1. Introduction. \ 2. The topology of rational curve fibrations over \(\mathbb R\). \ 3. Surgery on circle bundles. \ 4. General results on rational curve fibrations over \(\mathbb C\). \ 5. Irreducible fibers. \ 6. \(\mathbb Z_m\)-actions on real conic bundles. \ 7. Local topological description of real conic bundles. \ 8. Proof of the main theorems. \ 9. Real surfaces ewith Du Val singularities. \ 10. Examples. \ References.