Minimal models for Kähler threefolds (Q2634618)

In this comprehensive article the authors establish a minimal model program for compact Kähler threefolds. Let \(X\) be a normal \(\mathbb Q\)-factorial compact Kähler threefold with at most terminal singularities. Suppose the canonical bundle \(K_X\) is pseudo-effective, i.e., \(X\) is not uniruled, see \textit{M. Brunella} [Int. J. Math. 17, No. 1, 35--43 (2006; Zbl 1097.37041)]. Then \(X\) is bimeromorphically equivalent to a compact Kähler threefold \(X'\) with \(K_{X'}\) nef. The cone \(\overline{NA}(X)\) generated by the positive closed \((1,1)\)-currents on \(X\) plays a central role for the proof of this profund result. The cone admits a decomposition \(\overline{NA}(X)=\overline{NA}(X)_{K_{X}\geq 0}+ \sum_{i\in I}\mathbb R^+[\Gamma_i]\) with a countable family \((\Gamma_i)_{i\in I}\) of rational curves on \(X\) with the property \(-4<K_X\cdot\Gamma_i<0\). The construction of a minimal model is achieved by a sequence of contractions of the extremal rays \(\mathbb R^+[\Gamma_i]\) and flips. It is shown that these processes can be performed within the class of \(\mathbb Q\)-factorial compact Kähler threefolds with only terminal singularities. If \(X\rightarrow Y\) is a divisorial contraction, then for the Picard numbers the relation \(\rho(Y)=\rho(X)-1\) holds, and if the contraction is small with flip \(X^+\rightarrow Y\), then \(\rho(X^+)=\rho(X)\) but \(d(X^+)<d(X)\) by \textit{V. V. Shokurov} [Math. USSR, Izv. 26, 591--604 (1986; Zbl 0605.14006); translation from Izv. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Ser. Mat. 49, No. 3, 635--651 (1985)], where \(d(X)\in \mathbb N\) denotes the so-called difficulty of \(X\). Therefore the sequence of contractions terminates after finitely many steps.