Rationality of a tapered fiber (Q2355965)

Let \(k\) be a field of characteristic \(\neq 2\) and contain a square root \(i\) of \(-1\). Let \(C\) the elliptic curve over \(k\) defined by the affine equation \(y^2=x(X^2-1)\) and let \(g\) be the automorphism of \(C\) defined by \((x, y)\rightarrow (-x, iy)\). \textit{F. Campana} [in: Classification of algebraic varieties. Based on the conference on classification of varieties, Schiermonnikoog, Netherlands, May 2009. Zürich: European Mathematical Society (EMS). 115--121 (2011; Zbl 1219.14063)] asked whether or not the quotient of \(C\times_kC\times_kC\times_kC\) by the diagonal action of \(g\) is rational and he proved by a geometric argument that the quotient is rationally connected. Catanese, Oguiso and Truong [\textit{F. Catanese} et al., Manuscr. Math. 145, No. 3--4, 399--406 (2014; Zbl 1304.14064)] showed that this quotient is \(k\)-birational to the affine subvariety \(X\) of \(A_k^4\) defined by the equation \[ s^2v(v^2-1)-t^2u(u^2-1)+uv(u^2-v^2). \] The author of this article consider \(X\) as a conic defined over the field \(k(u, v)\). By computing residues of elements in the Brauer group of the function field of the plane, the author proved that this special threefold is indeed rational.