Constructing rational curves on \(K3\) surfaces (Q544672)

The authors prove that every \(K3\) surface over an algebraically closed field \(k\) of characteristic zero contains infinitely many rational curves, provided that that the Picard group is generated by a divisor of degree two. This is already known for \(K3\) surfaces that are general, or admit an elliptic fibration, or have infinite automorphism group, or if the ground field \(k\) is the algebraic closure of a finite field. It is conjectured to hold true always. The authors use an approach similiar to [\textit{S. Mori} and \textit{S. Mukai}, ``The uniruledness of the moduli space of curves of genus 11'', Lect. Notes Math. 1016, 334--353 (1983; Zbl 0557.14015)]. But here they use specialization from characteristic zero to finite fields. The authors show that \(K3\) surface over finite fields of characteristic \(p\geq 5\) have even geometric Picard rank, and exploit this fact by deforming back to characteristic zero enough rational curves.