Surfaces with \(K^{2}=2X-2\) and \(p_{g} \geq 5\) (Q649018)

By Noether's inequality minimal surfaces of general type always satisfy \(K^2\geq 2\chi-6\), and \textit{E. Horikawa} completely classified such surfaces with \(K^2\leq 2\chi-4\) [Ann. Math. (2) 104, 357--387 (1976; Zbl 0339.14024); Invent. Math. 37, 121--155 (1976; Zbl 0339.14025); Invent. Math. 47, 209--248 (1978; Zbl 0409.14005); Invent. Math. 50, 103--128 (1979; Zbl 0409.14006)]. The present paper characterizes minimal surfaces of general type with \(K^2=2\chi-2\) and \(p_g\geq 5\) in terms of their canonical map. Such surfaces with \(p_g=4\) were studied by \textit{I. Bauer} and \textit{R. Pignatelli} [Osaka J. Math. 46, No. 3, 799--820 (2009; Zbl 1181.14040)]. Such a surface, satisfying \(K^2<2\chi\) is always regular and as such its canonical image is also regular. It is proven that: i) If the canonical map is birational then \(p_g\leq 7\). Furthermore in this case either the canonical map is a morphism or possibly \(p_g=5\) and the linear system \(|K|\) has exactly one simple base point. ii) If the canonical map is not birational then it factors through an involution \(i\) of the surface \(S\) having \(0\), \(2\) or \(4\) isolated fixed points. In the first case it is also shown that either the canonical map is a morphism or possibly \(p_g=5\) and the linear system \(|K|\) has exactly one simple base point. For the second case it is proven that \(S/<i>\) is a rational surface. Furthermore it is shown that if the involution \(i\) has two isolated fixed points then \(p_g(S)\leq 8\) and if it has no isolated fixed points then \(p_g(S)\leq 12\). Finally it is shown that if the involution \(i\) has four isolated fixed points then \(S\) has a genus two pencil. In all these instances a very explicit description of the surface as a double cover is given.