Chern classes of uniruled varieties (Q2498481)

Let \((X, \omega)\) be a compact Kähler-Einstein manifold of dimension \(n\). A classical theorem [\textit{B. Chen} and \textit{K. Ogiue}, Q. J. Math. Oxford 26, 459--464 (1975; Zbl 0323.53034)] states that the Chern classes of the tangent bundle \(T_X\) satisfy the inequality \((2(n+1) c_2(X) - n c_1(X)^2) \cdot \omega^{n-2} \geq 0\) and equality holds if and only if the universal covering of \(X\) is a projective space, an affine space or the unit disc of dimension \(n\). By the Aubin-Yau theorem compact Kähler manifolds with numerically trivial or ample canonical class are Kähler-Einstein, so the theorem applies to them. To the contrary Fano manifolds that admit a Kähler-Einstein metric are very special, so the result is less useful in this context. The paper under review fills this gap by establishing an analogous inequality for the (much larger) class of uniruled varieties. More precisely the following situation is considered: Let \(X\) be a uniruled projective complex manifold, and let \(V\) be a minimal covering family of rational curves, that is a covering family such that for \(x \in X\) a general point the rational curves parametrized by \(V\) and passing through \(x\) form a proper scheme which we denote by \(V_x\). Let \(l=-K_X \cdot C\), where \(C\) is a rational curve parametrized by \(V\). Let furthermore \(U_x\) be an irreducible component of the graph over \(V_x\), then \(U_x\) has dimension \(l-1\) and admits a generically finite morphism \(i_x\) to \(X\). The main theorem states that \(i_{x*} (U_x) \cdot (c_2(X)-\frac{l-1}{2l} c_1(X)^2)\) is an effective cycle in the rational Chow group \(A_{l-3} \otimes Q\). The cycle is zero if and only if \(X\) admits (after finite covering) a rational map such that the general fibre is a projective space of dimension \(l-1\). The lines contained in such a projective space correspond to the curves parametrized by \(V\). If the cycle is not zero, we even obtain that \(i_{x*} (U_x) \cdot (c_2(X)-(\frac{l-1}{2l}+\frac{1}{l^2}) c_1(X)^2)\) is an effective cycle in the rational Chow group \(A_{l-3} \otimes Q\). The author's precise style of writing helps a lot to understand the proofs, some of them quite involved.