Low degree rational curves on quasi-polarized \(K3\) surfaces (Q7007210)

This paper considers birationally quasi-polarized \(K3\) sufaces of a fixed degree, that is, pairs \((X,H)\) such that \(H\in \mathrm{Pic}(X)\) is big, nef, base-point free and non-hyperelliptic with \(H^2=2h\). For a non-negative integer \(d\), define \(r_d:=r_d(X):\) to be the number of irreducible rational curves \(C\subset X\) with \(C\cdot H=d\). Finding the maximum of \(r_d\) for very ample \(H\) of fixed degree is a problem with long history without any satisfactory answers. For very ample \(H\), let \(S_d\) denote the number of irreducible rational curves \(C\subset X\) with \(0< \deg(C)\leq d\).\N\NThe paper focuses on quasi-polarized \(K3\) surfaces \(X\) where \(H\) is big, nef and \(|H|\) induces a birational morphism, but may contract \((-2)\)-curves to Du Val singularities, or ADE singularities. The number \(r_0\) of curves contracted equals the rank of the root lattice generated by the components of the minimal resolution of the ADE-singularities.\N\NThe main results are the bounds for the numbers \(S_d\) when \(|H|\) contracts some curves (\(r_0>0\)).\N\NTheorem Let \(d\in \mathbb{N}\) and let \(p=0\) or \(p>3\) be prime.\N\N(1) For all \(h>> 0\) and for all quasi-polarized \(K3\) surfaces \(X\) of degree \(2h\) over a field \(k\) of characteristic \(p\), one has \(S_d\leq (24-r_0)\).\N\N(2) If \(h>>0\) and \(S_d>(21-r_0)\), then all (irreducible) rational curves of degree at most \(d\) are fibre components of a genus one fibration.\N\N(3) For \(f\geq 3\), let \(h\geq d^2-1\). Then for any \(r\in\{1,\cdots,17\,\}\), there are \(K3\) surfaces od degree \(2h\) over \(\mathbb{C}\) such that \(r_d\geq 24-r\) and \(r_0=r\).\N\N(4) Let \(p\equiv 1\pmod 4\) prime. For \(d\geq 3\)m the statement of (3) holds true for all \(h\geq d(p_0+1)d+1-p_0)/2\) where \(p_0=min\{q: prime; q\nmid 2d\,\}\).\N\N(5) For \(d\geq 3\) and primes \(p\equiv 3\pmod 4\)m the statement of (3) holds true under either of the following conditions:\N\N-- \(p\nmid d\) and \(h\geq 4(p+1)d+1-p)/2\);\N\N-- \(p>4\sqrt{d+1}\) and \(h\geq d^2-1\).\N\NProofs of (1) and (2) are reduced to hyperbolic graphs associated to extended Fano graphs. For the assertions (3), (4), use ellptic fibrations with section.