On the finite generation of the effective monoid of rational surfaces (Q2267433)

The article under review examines conditions under which the effective monoid \(M(X)\) of a rational surface \(X\) is finitely generated. The monoid \(M(X)\) of a surface \(X\) is the set of effective divisor classes on \(X\) modulo algebraic equivalence. The author considers the case of surfaces \(X\) obtained by blowing up the projective plane along a \(0\)-dimensional subscheme \(Z \subset {\mathbb P}^ 2\). \textit{B. Harbourne} [Duke Math. J. 52, 129--148 (1985; Zbl 0577.14025)] studied the case when \(Z\) is contained in a smooth plane cubic curve and gave a characterization of finite generation of \(M(X)\) in terms of the \(({-}2)\)-curves lying on \(X\). Here, the author assumes that \(Z\) is contained in a degenerate cubic that is the union of an integral conic and a line. The subscheme \(Z\) can contain infinitely near points and is not necessarily disjoint from the singular locus of the cubic curve. Whereas smooth projective rational surfaces with finitely generated effective monoids and small Picard number are well understood, little is known in the case of large Picard number. Note that \(X\) may have arbitrarily large Picard number. It is known that the effective monoid \(M(X)\) of a rational surface obtained by blowing up \({\mathbb P}^ 2\) along the points of a constellation with the origin a single point is not necessarily finitely generated. The article treats the case when the constellation has ``support'' on a degenerate cubic curve of the type above. The article determines a numerical criterion for the finite generation of \(M(X)\). As a byproduct of this criterion, the author shows that nef divisors on \(X\) are regular.