Stability of Frobenius direct images over surfaces (Q2516473)

Let \(X\) be a smooth projective surface defined over an algebraically closed field of characteristic \(p>0\) and let \(F: X\to X\) be the absolute Frobenius morphism. In [Invent. Math. 173, No. 2, 427--447 (2008; Zbl 1195.14060)], \textit{X. Sun} proved that if \(\Omega_X\) is semistable with respect to some ample \(H\) and \(K_XH>0\) then for any rank \(1\) vector bundle \(E\) on \(X\), the Frobenius pushforward \(F_*E\) is stable with respect to \(H\). A similar but slightly weaker result proving semistability of \(F_*E\) can be also found in [Tohoku Math. J. (2) 60, No. 2, 287--301 (2008; Zbl 1201.14030)] by \textit{Y. Kitadai} and \textit{H. Sumihiro}. The main aim of the paper under review is to generalize this theorem to the higher rank case. Namely, under the same assumptions, the authors prove that if \(E\) is semistable (stable) of rank \(r\) and \(p\geq r(r-1)^2+1\) then \(F_*E\) is also semistable (respectively, stable). The same authors published also another paper [C. R., Math., Acad. Sci. Paris 353, No. 4, 339--344 (2015; Zbl 1332.14053)] that deals with the rank \(2\) case of their result. Reviewer's remark: None of the two papers by the authors mentions existence of the other.