On upper bounds of virtual Mordell-Weil ranks (Q1355890)

Let \(f: X\rightarrow C\) be a relatively minimal fibration of curves of genus \(g\geq 1\) over a smooth projective curve \(C\) of genus \(b\) defined over an algebraically closed field \(k\). The author defines the virtual Mordell-Weil rank \(r\) of \(X\) by \(r=\rho-2-\sum_{t\in C}(n_t-1)\) where \(\rho=\text{rank} \text{NS}(X)\) is the Picard number of \(X\) and \(n_t\) denotes the number of irreducible components of the fiber \(f^{-1}(t)\). Under certain conditions, \(r\) is the rank of the Mordell-Weil group of the Jacobian of \(X\) over the function field \(K\) of \(C\). The author shows that \[ r\leq(6+4/g) \text{deg}(f^{}_*\omega^{}_{X/C})+ 2q(X)+2(gb-b-g). \] Equality holds if and only if \(f\) is hyperelliptic, all fibers of \(f\) are irreducible and \(q(X)=b\). The author has more precise results when \(b=0\) and either \(\chi({\mathcal O}_X)=1\) or \(c_1^2(X)<0\).