On the class of projective surfaces of general type (Q1683761)

Let \(H\) be a very ample divisor on a smooth complex projective surface \(S\), and let \(m:=m(S,H)\) be the class of \((S,H)\). As a contribution to the investigation of surfaces for which \(m-H^2\) is small, the reviewer proved that if \(S\) is of general type then \(m-3H^2 \geq 17\) [\textit{A. Lanteri}, Arch. Math. 45, 79--85 (1985; Zbl 0557.14018)]. In the paper under review the author improves the above bound, showing that in fact \(m-3H^2 \geq 19\) or \(22\) for any pair \((S,H)\) as above, according to whether the left hand term is odd or even, respectively. Moreover, he studies the structure of pairs \((S,H)\) for which \(19 \leq m-3H^2 \leq 24\), showing that in most cases \(S\) is a numerical Godeaux or Campedelli surface and describing \(H\) in some instances. Furthermore, he provides some explicit examples.