Algebraic Montgomery-Yang problem: the log del Pezzo surface case (Q482852)

This paper investigates the so-called Montgomery--Yang Problem for a \(\mathbb{Q}\)-homology projective plane: Let \(S\) be a normal projective surface with quotient singularities such that \(b_2(S)=1\) and \(S^0=S\backslash \text{Sing}(S)\) is simply connected. Then \(S\) contains at most \(3\) singular points. Previous papers by the authors [\textit{D. Hwang} and \textit{J. Keum}, Math. Ann. 350, No. 3, 721--754 (2011; Zbl 1228.14033), Mich. Math. J. 62, No. 1, 3--37 (2013; Zbl 1273.14080)] proved this conjecture for non-cyclic singularities and non-rational surfaces case, respectively. In this paper, the log del Pezzo surface case is treated. The main idea is to combine the classification of log del Pezzo surface with the formulae for the intersection numbers of divisors on the minimal resolution. More precisely, it is known that \(S\) has at most \(4\) singular points [\textit{G. N. Belousov}, Math. Notes 83, No. 2, 152--161 (2008); translation from Mat. Zametki 83, No. 2, 170--180 (2008; Zbl 1148.14018)]. To get contradiction, one may assume that \(S\) has exactly \(4\) singularities. Then one can classify all possible singularities. By more explicit computations, one can exclude these possibilities. Note that minimal curves on the minimal resolution play important roles in the computation. By this paper and two previous papers, to consider Montgomery--Yang Problem, one only need to consider rational surfaces with cyclic singularities and \(K_S\) ample.