Factorial hypersurfaces in \(\mathbb{P}^4\) with nodes (Q861683)

Let \(X\subset \mathbb P^{4}\) be a complex, projective hypersurface with only nodes, of degree \(n\). One says that \(X\) is factorial if its graded ring is unique factorization domain. This is equivalent to the fact that every surface lying in \(X\) is a complete intersection on \(X\), which in turn is equivalent to say that \(X\) is \(\mathbb Q\)-factorial, i.e. that every Weil divisor of \(X\) has a multiple which is a Cartier divisor. For the interest in this notion in the study of birational geometry see [\textit{J. Kollár, S. Mori}, Birational Geometry of Algebraic Varieties. With the collaboration of C. H. Clemens and A. Corti. Cambridge Tracts in Mathematics 134 (1998; Zbl 0926.14003); \textit{M. Mella}, Math. Ann. 330, 107--126 (2004; Zbl 1058.14022); \textit{Y. Miyaoka, T. Peternell}, Geometry of Higher Dimensional Algebraic Varieties, DMV Seminar, 26 (1997; Zbl 0865.14018)]. If \(X\) is nonsingular then it is factorial by the Lefschetz Hyperplane Theorem. This is no longer true when \(X\) is singular. For instance, when \(X\) is a general hypersurface containing a fixed plane, then the singular locus of \(X\) consists of \((n-1)^2\) nodes, and \(X\) is not factorial for it contains the given plane. However, \textit{I. Cheltsov} [J. Algebr. Geom. 14, 663--690 (2005; Zbl 1084.14039)] has shown that if \(X\) has at most \((n-1)^2/4\) nodes then it is factorial. On the other hand, by [\textit{C. Ciliberto, V. Di Gennaro}, in: Algebraic transformation groups and algebraic varieties. Proc. Conf. Vienna, Austria 2001. Encyclopaedia of Mathematical Sciences 132. Invariant Theory and Algebraic Transformation Groups 3, 9--14 (2004; Zbl 1066.14007)], one knows that every smooth surface in \(X\) is cut out by a hypersurface. Therefore one conjectures that every nodal hypersurface \(X\subset \mathbb P^4\) of degree \(n\) \((\geq 3)\) with at most \((n-1)^2 -1\) nodes is factorial. In the paper under review, the author prove this conjecture for \(3\leq n\leq 7\).