Log rationally connected surfaces (Q510382)

A log smooth log surface is a pair \((X,D)\) where \(X\) is a smooth algebraic surface and \(D \subset X\) is a simple normal crossings divisor. It is called \textit{log rationally connected} if through a general pair of points there exists a rational curve on \(X\) which meets the boundary at no more than one point. Building on the results of \textit{M. Miyanishi} and \textit{S. Tsunoda} [Jpn. J. Math., New Ser. 10, 271--319 (1984; Zbl 0596.14024); ibid. 10, 195--242 (1984; Zbl 0596.14023)], and \textit{S. Keel} and \textit{J. McKernan} [Mem. Am. Math. Soc. 669, 153 p. (1999; Zbl 0955.14031)], the author provides a numerical criterion that is necessary and sufficient for log rationally connected log surfaces, and generalizes the classical Castelnuovo's rationality criterion in the case of pairs. Starting from a log smooth log surface \((X,D)\) with log Kodaira dimension \(-\infty\), one can run log minimal model program for a such pair. The out-puts have been classified by the above work of Miyanishi-Tsunoda and Keel-McKernan where the log rationally connectedness has been established except the case of log ruled surfaces. The key part of the paper is the author's analysis of possible rulings of \((X,D)\) in the log ruled case using the vanishing of symmetric differential forms. Given such classification of rulings, the log rationally connectedness in the log ruled case follows from strong approximation over the function field of the projective line.