Non-rational sextic double solids (Q2152865)

The author considers double solids branched along nodal sextic curves and studies the 2-torsion subgroups $T_2(\tilde{X})$ in the third integer cohomology groups of their resolution of singularities $H^3(\tilde{X},\mathbb{Z})$. For background see [\textit{M. Artin} and \textit{D. Mumford}, Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. (3) 25, 75--95 (1972; Zbl 0244.14017)] Nodal double solids branched along surfaces of degree greater than 6 have non-negative Kodaira dimension and therefore are non-rational. The author gives an explicit classification of obstructed sextic double solids and shows that if a nodal sextic double solid admits a nontrivial group $T_2(\tilde{X})$ then it belongs to one of four families that are described explicitly in this paper. Additional background can be found in the following papers: [\textit{A. Iliev} et al., Proc. Edinb. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 57, No. 1, 145--173 (2014; Zbl 1303.14026); \textit{A. Beauville}, Bull. Lond. Math. Soc. 48, No. 2, 321--324 (2016; Zbl 1386.14184); \textit{I. Cheltsov} and \textit{J. Park}, Prog. Math. 282, 75--132 (2010; Zbl 1200.14031)].