Rationality of Fano threefolds with terminal Gorenstein singularities. I (Q2185511)

Let \(X\) be a projective variety defined over a field \(k\). \(X\) is called rational over \(k\) if and only if it is birational to \(\mathbb{P}^n_k\). This paper classifies some classes of nonrational Fano threefolds with terminal Gorenstein singularities and Picard number 1. In particular, suppose that \(X\) is a nonrational Fano threefold with terminal Gorenstein singularities and Picard number 1. Then it is shown that \begin{itemize} \item[1.] Suppose that the Picard group of \(X\), \(\mathrm{Pic}(X)\) is not generated by \(K_X\). Then \(X\) is either a smooth cubic hypersurface in \(\mathbb{P}^4\), or a double cover of index 2 over \(\mathbb{P}^2\), or a Veronese double cone. \item[2.] Suppose that the Picard group of \(X\), \(\mathrm{Pic}(X)\) is generated by \(K_X\). Then \(-K_X\) is very ample and it defines an embedding \(X\subset \mathbb{P}^n\). Moreover, \begin{itemize} \item[a)] Suppose that \(X\) is trigonal (i.e., it is not an intersection of quadrics). Then \(X\) belongs to two explicitly constructed families. \item[b)] Suppose that \(X\) is not trigonal and it contains a plane in \(\mathbb{P}^n\). Then \(X\) is birational to a cubic hypersurface in \(\mathbb{P}^4\). \item[c)] Suppose that \(X\) is not trigonal and it does not contain a plane in \(\mathbb{P}^n\). Then \(X\) is birational to either one of the previous cases or to a Mori fiber space \(X^{\prime}\rightarrow Z\), where \(Z\) is either \(\mathbb{P}^1\), \(\mathbb{P}^2\) or \(\mathbb{P}^1\times \mathbb{P}^1\). \end{itemize} \end{itemize}