Two remarks on sextic double solids (Q863953)

A variety \(V\) defined over a number field \(F\) has potential density (or, the set of rational points of \(V\) is potentially dense) if there is a finite extension \(K\) of \(F\) such that \(V(K)\) is Zariski-dense in \(V\). The present paper investigates the potential density property of sextic double solids, that is, double covers of \({\mathbb P}^3\) ramified over a sextic surface. The study is motivated by the result, proved by \textit{F. A. Bogomolov} and \textit{Yu. Tschinkel} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 511, 87--93 (1999; Zbl 0916.14008)] that double covers of \({\mathbb P}^2\) branched over a singular sextic curve have potential density, except when the branch curve is six concurrent lines. (The exception is pointed out in the present paper.) This follows because such surfaces have an elliptic or rational fibration coming from lines through a singular point of the branch locus. The principal result of the present paper is that the double solid branched over a singular sextic surface has potential density, except when the branch surface is a cone over a non-singular sextic curve or six planes with a line in common. This is analogous to the two-dimensional result, but the authors have proved that in \(\text{char}> 5\) these sextic double solids do \textit{not} carry elliptic fibrations (reference is made to [\textit{I. Cheltsov}, J. Math. Sci., New York 102, No. 2, 3843--3875 (2000; Zbl 1016.14005)] and to a preprint) so the generalization is not straightforward. Once the 3-dimensional case is proven, a similar result for double covers of \(\mathbb P^r\), \(r>3\), branched over sextic hypersurfaces, follows by induction. To complete the picture, sextic double solids in char 5 are also discussed. An example is given of one such solid which has an elliptic fibration, and the final section gives a general study, using the theory of the moving boundary introduced by the first author in his already cited paper. It is proven that the type of elliptic fibration given in the example is the only type that can occur.