Chern slopes of surfaces of general type in positive characteristic (Q523691)

Let \(k\) be an algebraically closed ground field of characteristic \(p>0\), and fix some real number \(x\geq 2\). The author constructs minimal surfaces \(X\) of general type with Chern numbers \(c_1^2>0\) and \(c_2>0\) such that the Chern slope \(c_1^2/c_2\) is arbitrarily close to the real number \(x\). The point here is that one also has control over the fundamental group: Either one may demand that \(\pi_1(X)\) is isomorphic to \(\pi_1(C)\) for some given smooth curve \(C\), or that \(X\) is simply-connected with trivial \(\text{Pic}^0(X)\), in other words \(h^1(\mathscr{O}_C)=0\). The former case was already established in [\textit{X. Roulleau} and \textit{G. Urzúa}, Ann. Math. (2) 182, No. 1, 287--306 (2015; Zbl 1346.14097)] over the complex numbers. For fixed curve \(C\), the construction starts with a \(\mathbb{P}^1\)-bundle \(Z\to C\) and a suitable arrangement of sections and fibers, passes to the minimal log resolution \(Y\to Z\) of the arrangement, then takes a branched covering \(\bar{W}\to Y\) of prime degree \(q\neq p\), and finally makes the minimal resolution of singularities \(X\to\bar{W}\). The behavior of Chern numbers rely on asymptotic behavior of lengths of continued fractions and Dedekind sums, which are attached to the singularities occurring on the branched covering \(\bar{W}\). These are controlled with number-theoretical results of \textit{K. Girstmair} [J. Number Theory 119, No. 1, 66--85 (2006; Zbl 1225.11054)]. The construction of surfaces with \(h^1(\mathscr{O}_X)=0\) proceeds along the same lines.