On the divisor class group of double solids (Q1296396)

Let \(B\subset {\mathbb{P}}^3\) a surface of even degree with \(\mu\) isolated ordinary double points (``nodes''). A subset \(I\) of the nodes of \(B\) is said to be ``even'' (respectively, ``weakly even'') if there exists a double cover of \(B\) branched precisely on \(I\) (respectively, the union of \(I\) and of a plane section of \(B\)). Another interpretation of even sets is the following: \(I\) is even (respectively, weakly even) iff there exists a surface \(S\) in \({\mathbb{P}}^3\) of even (respectively, odd) degree such that \(S\cdot B=2D\), where \(D\) is a curve, and the points of \(I\) are precisely the points of \(B\) where \(D\) is not Cartier. The surface \(S\) is called a ``contact surface''. Now let \(f\colon V\to {\mathbb{P}}^3\) be the double cover branched on \(B\). The singularities of \(V\) are ordinary double points and the so-called ``big resolution'' \(\widetilde{V}\) of \(V\) can be obtained by blowing up \({\mathbb{P}}^3\) at the singular points of \(B\) and taking base change and normalization. The Picard group \(\text{ Pic}(\widetilde{V})=H^2(\widetilde{V},{\mathbb{Z}})\) is the direct sum of the pull-back of the Picard group of \({\mathbb{P}}^3\) blown up, which has rank \(\mu+1\), and of a free group \({\mathcal M}\). The author describes a set of generators of \({\mathcal M}\) in terms of some special contact surfaces of the (weakly) even sets of nodes of \(B\).