The Hodge number \(h^{1,1}\) of irregular algebraic surfaces (Q5963287)

Let \(S\) be a smooth complex surface of general type; furthermore, assume that \(S\) is irregular, namely that the \textit{irregularity} \(q:=h^1({\mathcal O}_S)=h^0(\Omega^1_S)\) is \(>0\) and denote by \(a: S\to A\) the Albanese map. Here the authors look for lower bounds depending on \(q\) for the Hodge number \(h^{1,1}(S):=h^1(\Omega^1_S)\), under the assumption that \(S\) has no map onto a curve of genus \(>1\). Their main result is that the inequality \(h^{1,1}\geq 4q-3\) holds whenever \(q=2^k+1\), generalizing previous results for \(q=3,5\) [\textit{A. Causin} and \textit{G. P. Pirola}, Linear Algebra Appl. 426, No. 2--3, 533--539 (2007; Zbl 1126.15019)]. It is worth noticing that the inequality does not hold for every \(q\): the so-called Schoen surface has \(q=4\) and \(h^{1,1}=12<4q-3\). The strategy of the proof consists in studying the kernel \(K\) of the map \(a^*: H^{1,1}(A)\to H^{1,1}(S)\). If we identify \(H^{1,1}(A)\) with the space \(M(q)\) of square complex matrices of order \(q\), real \((1,1)\)-forms correspond Hermitian matrices and \(K\) is the complexification of a real subspace \(K_0\) such whose nonzero elements have rank \(\geq 4\). Using this property it is possible to bound above the dimension of \(K_0\) (and of \(K\)) by topological methods.