Birational maps between Calabi-Yau manifolds associated to webs of quadrics (Q1950630)

The author considers a web \(W\) of quadrics in \(\mathbb{CP}^7\), \(W=\{\sum_{i=0}^3 \lambda_i Q_i\;|\;[\lambda_0:\dots:\lambda_3]\in\mathbb{CP}^3\}\) where \(Q_i\) are linearly independent sections of \(\mathcal{O}_{\mathbb{CP}^7}(2)\). Assume that \(W\) contains a plane \(P\cong\mathbb{CP}^2\) (i.e. \(P\) is contained in the base locus of \(W\)), and that \(W\) is generic. Then the base locus of \(W\) is a singular Calabi-Yau variety, which has a small resolution \(X_W\), a smooth Calabi-Yau threefold. On the other hand, one can also consider the double cover of \(\mathbb{CP}^3\) branched along the determinant surface corresponding to degenerate quadrics in the web. It is also a singular Calabi-Yau variety with a small resolution \(Y_W\), another smooth Calabi-Yau threefold. The main result of the paper is that \(X_W\) and \(Y_W\) are birational.