On deformations of \(\mathbb{Q}\)-Fano threefolds. II (Q2405321)

A \(\mathbb{Q}\)-Fano threefold is a \(\mathbb{Q}\)-factorial three dimensional projective variety defined over \(\mathbb{C}\) with terminal singularities such that \(-K_X\) is ample. \(\mathbb{Q}\)-Fano threefolds is one of the possible classes of threefolds with negative Kodaira dimension and also one of the outcomes of the three dimensional minimal model program. For these reasons their classification as well as the classification of their families is of outmost importance. A \(\mathbb{Q}\)-smoothing of a \(\mathbb{Q}\)-Fano threefold \(X\) is a flat projective morphism \(f : \mathcal{X} \rightarrow \Delta\), where \(\Delta\) is the unit disk such that \(f^{-1}(0)\cong X\) and the general fiber \(\mathcal{X}_t\) of \(f\) is a \(\mathbb{Q}\)-Fano threefold which is either smooth or has cyclic quotient singularities. The existence of a \(\mathbb{Q}\)-smoothing of a \(\mathbb{Q}\)-Fano threefold is one of the fundamental problems in the classification of \(\mathbb{Q}\)-Fano threefolds. If a Fano threefold has Gorenstein terminal singularities then \textit{Y. Namikawa} proved that it is smoothable [J. Algebr. Geom. 6, No. 2, 307--324 (1997; Zbl 0906.14019)]. In a previous paper, the author has proved that a \(\mathbb{Q}\)-Fano threefold with ordinary terminal singularities has a \(\mathbb{Q}\)-smoothing [J. Algebr. Geom. 25, No 1, 141--176 (2016; Zbl 1346.14109)]. The main result of this paper is that a \(\mathbb{Q}\)-factorial Fano threefold with non-ordinary singularities can be deformed to a Fano threefold whose singularities are either cyclic quotient singularities or singularities of type \(A_{1,2}/4\), that is locally analytically isomorphic to \((x^2+y^2+z^3+w^2=0)/\mathbb{Z}_4(1,3,2,1)\). The author also shows that a \(\mathbb{Q}\)-Calabi-Yau threefold with a \(\mathbb{Q}\)-factorial global index 1 cover can be deformed to a Calabi-Yau threefold whose singularities are either cyclic quotient or of type \(A_{1,2}/4\). In the case when \(X\) has Gorenstein terminal singularities this was proved by \textit{Y. Namikawa} and \textit{J.H.M. Steenbrink} [Invent. Math. 122, No. 2, 403--419 (1995; Zbl 0861.14036).]. The author's proof follows the lines of the proof given by Y. Namikawa and J.H.M. Steenbrink in the aforementioned paper.