A removable singularities theorem for families of ruled surfaces (Q2365063)

Let \(\mathcal M\) be a complex manifold, and \(f : {\mathcal M}\to D \subseteq \mathbb{C}^m\) a proper, holomorphic map, such that \(\text{rank}(J(f))_p=m\) for all \(p\in {\mathcal M}\). Then \({\mathcal M}\) will correspond to a holomorphic family of compact, complex manifolds, fibered over \(D\). If \(Z\subset D\) is an analytic subset, such that the family \({\mathcal M}\setminus f^{-1}(Z)\) is locally trivial over \(D\setminus Z\), under what circumstances is \(\mathcal M\) trivial? This question is related to the phenomenon of complex ``structure-jumping'' in Kodaira-Spencer deformation theory. Extending earlier results for families of two-dimensional holomorphic fiber bundles over \({\mathbf C\mathbf P}_1\) or their blow-ups, we show that when \({\mathcal M}\setminus f^{-1}(Z)\) corresponds to a family such that for all \(t\in D\setminus Z\), \(f^{-1}(t)\) is either a ruled surface over a curve, \(\Sigma_g\), \(g\geq 1\) or a compact, complex surface having one of these as minimal model under a finite sequence of bimeromorphic transformations, then \(Z\) has complex codimension at least four in \(D\) implies \(\mathcal M\) is trivial. More specifically, those ruled surfaces are considered for which the topological self-intersection, \(\Sigma^2_g\), of the embedded curve is negative. This condition is seen to correspond to the requirement that \(f^{-1}(t)\) be the projectivization of a holomorphic vector bundle \(E\) of rank two on \(\Sigma_g\) which is not semistable. Conversely, it is seen as a straight-forward corollary that when \(E\) is stable, the codimension requirement for triviality of \(\mathcal M\) is at least two.