On non-projective normal surfaces (Q1819135)

By a surface, it is understood an integral two-dimensional algebraic scheme, proper over a field \(k\) (i.e., a complete surface). In the present paper, assuming that the base field is uncountable, the author presents several examples of normal surfaces which are not projective. They are necessarily singular, and have some features that are not possible in the projective case. These examples are certain modifications of \(Y=\mathbb{P}^1 \times C\), for a suitable smooth curve \(C\) of positive genus. More precisely, the modifications involved, called mutations, are of the following type: Let \(y\) be a \(k\)-rational point of \(Y\), \(X\to Y\) the quadratic transform with center \(y\), \(C_y=p_2^{-1} (p_2(y))\), (where \(p_2:Y\to C\) is the second projection), \(D\) the strict transform of \(C_y\) to \(X\). One can show that \(D\) can be contracted to a point. The contraction \(Z\) is called the mutation of \(Y\) with respect to \(y\). Now, if \(y_1,\dots,y_n\) are rational points of \(Y\) one defines the mutation of \(Y\) with respect to these points by proceeding locally about each point \(y_i\) as above and then glueing the resulting surfaces. One obtains a complete normal surface which, for \(n>1\), is not necessarily projective. The author studies the influence of mutations on the Picard group of \(Y\) and then, by using suitable curves \(C\) and rational points \(y_1,\dots, y_n\) on \(Y\) he constructs examples of: (1) a normal non-projective surface \(F\) with \(\text{Pic} (F)=0\), (2) a normal non-projective surface \(F'\) containing an integral Cartier divisor \(D\) having \(D^2>0\), (3) a normal non-projective surface \(F''\) with no ample divisors; moreover this example negatively answers a question of S. Kleiman: Is a normal surface with an invertible sheaf \({\mathcal L}\) such that \(c^2_2({\mathcal L})>0\) necessarily projective?