A bound for the orders of the torsion groups of surfaces with \(c_1^2 = 2\chi-1\) (Q2491124)

The torsion group of minimal surfaces \(X\) of general type over \({\mathbb C}\) satisfying \(c_1^2(X)< 2\chi({\mathcal {O}}_X)\) is finite. For surfaces satisfying \(c_1^2\leq 2\chi({\mathcal {O}}_X)-3\) it is actually trivial, whilst \textit{C. Ciliberto} and the reviewer [Geom. Dedicata 66, No.3, 313--329 (1997; Zbl 0905.14021)] characterized minimal surfaces \(X\) of general type with \(c_1^2(X)= 2\chi({\mathcal {O}}_X)-2\) and non-trivial torsion. For such surfaces the order of the torsion group is at most \(2\) and if the torsion group is not trivial then \(\chi({\mathcal {O}}_X)\leq 5\). In the present paper a similar result is proved for minimal surfaces satisfying \(c_1^2(X)= 2\chi({\mathcal {O}}_X)-1\). The main result in this paper states that if \(\chi({\mathcal {O}}_X)\geq 7\) then the torsion group is trivial, whilst it is at most of order 2 if \(\chi({\mathcal {O}}_X)\geq 3\) and at most of order \(3\) if \(\chi=2\). These results are obtained using the geometry of the surfaces obtained as possible étale covers associated to the torsion groups. We note that the torsion groups of minimal surfaces \(X\) of general type with \(\chi({\mathcal {O}}_X)=1\) and \(c_1^2(X) =1\) (the so called Godeaux surfaces) have been well understood for a long time [\textit{Y. Miyaoka}, Invent. Math. 34, 99--111 (1976; Zbl 0337.14010); \textit{M. Reid}, J. Fac. Sci., Univ. Tokyo, Sect. I A 25, 75--92 (1978; Zbl 0399.14025)]. For these the torsion groups have at most order 5 and are cyclic. Also the case \(\chi({\mathcal {O}}_X)=2\), \(c_1^2(X)=3\) and torsion group of order \(3\) has been completely characterized by the author of the present paper in [J. Math. Kyoto Univ. 43, No.~1, 203--215 (2003; Zbl 1061.14035)].