Existence of a rational elliptic surface with a given Mordell-Weil lattice (Q2366799)

This note continues the series of the author's papers devoted to Mordell- Weil lattices (MWL) of elliptic surfaces \(S\) (= Kodaira-Néron models of elliptic curves \(E\) defined over the rational function field \(K=k(t))\). The MWL is nothing but the group \(E(K)\) (modulo torsion) equipped with the height pairing; one can describe it in terms of the reducible singular fibres \(F_ v=f^{-1} (v)\) of the fibration \(f:S \to\mathbb{P}^ 1\). Namely, let \(T_ v\) be generated by the irreducible components of \(F_ v\) (other than the identity component); each \(T_ v\) is a root lattice of type \(A\), \(D\), \(E\) (up to the sign). For rational elliptic surfaces the direct sum \(T\) of \(T_ v\)'s can be embedded into the root lattice \(E_ 8\). The orthogonal complement \(L\) of \(T\) in \(E_ 8\) is isomorphic to the ``narrow MWL'' (consisting of the sections of \(f\) passing through the identity component of every fibre), while \(M=E(K)\) is isomorphic to the direct sum of \(L^*\) (the dual lattice of \(L)\) and a finite group. The possible structure of the triple \(\{T,L,M\}\) has been classified into 74 types by \textit{K. Oguiso} and the author [Comment. Math. Univ. St. Pauli 40, No. 1, 83-99 (1991; Zbl 0757.14011)]; the natural question has been posed whether every type could be realized for some elliptic surface. The main result of the note under review gives a positive answer to this question. Moreover, one can construct a \(\mathbb{Q}\)- split example (all the irreducible components of reducible fibres being \(\mathbb{Q}\)-rational) for all the types except one where \(Q\) should be replaced by the field of cube roots of unity. As consequence, there is given an existence theorem for an affine surface having \(\mathbb{Q}\)-rational singular points of the prescribed type and exceptional curves of the resolution being also \(\mathbb{Q}\)-rational. -- Another (arithmetic) consequence is: Theorem 5. The minimal height of a non-torsion point \(P \in E(K)\) is equal to 1/30 when \(E\) runs over elliptic curves with a rational elliptic surfaces as the Kodaira-Néron model. -- An equation for \(E\) and a point with the norm 1/30 are written down explicitly.