Coble surfaces with finite automorphism group (Q2154697)

A \textit{Coble surface} is a rational surface \(S\) with a non-effective anticanonical divisor, such that the linear system \(|-2K_S|\) consists of a unique divisor, namely the union \(B_1+\ldots+B_n\) of disjoint smooth rational curves. Coble surfaces are quotients of \(K3\) surfaces, and also appear as degenerations of Enriques surfaces. As such, they share many features and properties with Enriques surfaces. For instance, the automorphism group of the general Coble surface is infinite, but we have examples of Coble surfaces with finite automorphism group. On the Enriques side, we have a complete classification of Enriques surfaces with finite automorphism group in every characteristic by \textit{V. V. Nikulin} [Sov. Math., Dokl. 30, 282--285 (1984; Zbl 0604.14036); translation from Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 277, 1324--1327 (1984)] and \textit{S. Kondō} [Jpn. J. Math., New Ser. 12, 191--282 (1986; Zbl 0616.14031)] for the case of characteristic \(0\), and by \textit{G. Martin} [Algebr. Geom. 6, No. 5, 592--649 (2019; Zbl 1436.14067)] and \textit{T. Katsura} et al. [Algebr. Geom. 7, No. 4, 390--459 (2020; Zbl 1452.14038)] for the case of positive characteristic. In particular, if the characteristic of the base field is \(p\ge 0\), \(p \ne 2\), Enriques surfaces with finite automorphism group are classified into seven types, named \(\mathrm{I},\ldots,\mathrm{VII}\). The purpose of the present paper is to classify Coble surfaces with finite automorphism group over an algebraically closed field of characteristic \(p\ge 0\), \(p\ne 2\). The main theorem asserts that there are \(9\) types, and there is precisely one surface for each type. Quite interestingly, the author observes that in \(7\) of the \(9\) types, the resulting Coble surface arises either as degeneration of a family of Enriques surfaces of type \(\mathrm{I}\) or \(\mathrm{II}\), or as reduction modulo \(p\) of Enriques surfaces of type \(\mathrm{V}\), \(\mathrm{VI}\) or \(\mathrm{VII}\). The proof of the classification follows the ideas used in the case of Enriques surfaces. More precisely, it builds on the fact that every genus \(1\) fibration on a Coble surface with finite automorphism group is extremal, in order to obtain the dual graph of effective irreducible roots on the surface. Vinberg's criterion is then employed to show that the resulting Coble surfaces really have a finite automorphism group.