Fields of definition of rational curves of a given degree (Q2199686)

For \(e\in\mathbb{N}\), let \(N(e)\) be the number of rational curves of degree \(e\) passing through \(3e-1\) points in general position in \({\mathbb P}^{2}(\mathbb{C})\). Kontsevich's formula, see [\textit{M. Kontsevich} and \textit{Yu. Manin}, Commun. Math. Phys. 164, No. 3, 525--562 (1994; Zbl 0853.14020); Prog. Math. 129, 335--368 (1995; Zbl 0885.14028)], permits a quick evaluation of \(N(e)\) for any \(e\). The authors of this work take an arithmetic approach and prove that the set of \((3e-1)\) - tuples of points in \({\mathbb P}^{2}(\mathbb{Q})\), such that at least one of the rational curves of degree \(e\) passing through those points is defined over \(\mathbb{Q}\), is a thin set as soon as \(e>2\). Moreover, let \[\{d, n, N\}\subseteq\mathbb{N},\;d>1,\;2^{d}(d-1)<N,\] let \( F(x)\) be a homogeneous polynomial of degree \(d, F(x)\in\mathbb{Z}[x]\), \( x:=(x_{1},\dots,x_{N})\), and suppose that \(X: F(x)=0\) is a smooth hypersurface in \({\mathbb P}^{N}\). Let \[S:=\{P|P\in X^{n}(\mathbb{Q}),\;\text{at least one of the rational curves in}\;X(\mathbb{Q})\] \[\text{passing through}\;P\text{ is defined over}\;\mathbb{Q}\},\] \[\mathbf{M}(B):=\text{card}\;\{P|P\in X^{n}(\mathbb{Q}),\;H(P)<B\},\] and \[\mathbf{N}(B):=\text{card}\;\{P|P\in S,\;H(P)<B\},\] where \(H\) is the anticanonical height on \(X^{n}\); making use of some recent sieve estimates and the circle method, the authors prove that \[\mathbf{N}(B)\mathbf{M}(B)^{-1}=O_{F}((\log B)^{-\delta}),\;\delta>0,\] as \(B\rightarrow\infty\).