Degree of irrationality of an algebraic surface (Q1333212)

Let \(K\) be an algebraically closed field, \(\text{char} K = 0\), and let \(L\) be a finitely generated extension of \(K\) of transcendence degree \(n\). Considering \(L\) as the rational function field of an algebraic variety \(V\), let \(d(V)\) stand for the degree of irrationality of \(V\) as introduced by \textit{T. T. Moh} and \textit{W. Heinzer} [J. Algebra 77, 62-73 (1982; Zbl 0533.14010)]. They studied this birational invariant when \(n = 1\). In this article the integer \(d(V)\) is studied in the surface case especially according to the Kodaira dimension of \(V\). Moreover if \(V \subset \mathbb{P}^3\) is smooth the behaviour of \(d(V)\) is worked out for small values of \(\deg V\).