The aim of this book is to provide an introduction to the structure theory of higher dimensional algebraic varieties by studying the geometry of curves, especially rational curves, on varieties. The main applications are in the study of Fano varieties and of related varieties with lots of rational curves on them. This Ergebnisse volume provides the first systematic introduction to this field of study. The book contains a large number of examples and exercises which serve to illustrate the range of the methods and also lead to many open questions of current research.

This volume contains papers from the Short Thematic Program on Rational Points, Rational Curves, and Entire Holomorphic Curves and Algebraic Varieties, held from June 3-28, 2013, at the Centre de Recherches Mathématiques, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada. The program was dedicated to the study of subtle interconnections between geometric and arithmetic properties of higher-dimensional algebraic varieties. The main areas of the program were, among others, proving density of rational points in Zariski or analytic topology on special varieties, understanding global geometric properties of rationally connected varieties, as well as connections between geometry and algebraic dynamics exploring new geometric techniques in Diophantine approximation. This book is co-published with the Centre de Recherches Mathématiques.

This book is based on lecture notes of a seminar of the Deutsche Mathematiker Vereinigung held by the authors at Oberwolfach from April 2 to 8, 1995. It gives an introduction to the classification theory and geometry of higher dimensional complex-algebraic varieties, focusing on the tremendeous developments of the sub ject in the last 20 years. The work is in two parts, with each one preceeded by an introduction describing its contents in detail. Here, it will suffice to simply ex plain how the subject matter has been divided. Cum grano salis one might say that Part 1 (Miyaoka) is more concerned with the algebraic methods and Part 2 (Peternell) with the more analytic aspects though they have unavoidable overlaps because there is no clearcut distinction between the two methods. Specifically, Part 1 treats the deformation theory, existence and geometry of rational curves via characteristic p, while Part 2 is principally concerned with vanishing theorems and their geometric applications. Part I Geometry of Rational Curves on Varieties Yoichi Miyaoka RIMS Kyoto University 606-01 Kyoto Japan Introduction: Why Rational Curves? This note is based on a series of lectures given at the Mathematisches Forschungsin stitut at Oberwolfach, Germany, as a part of the DMV seminar "Mori Theory". The construction of minimal models was discussed by T.

This book gives a systematic presentation of real algebraic varieties. Real algebraic varieties are ubiquitous.They are the first objects encountered when learning of coordinates, then equations, but the systematic study of these objects, however elementary they may be, is formidable. This book is intended for two kinds of audiences: it accompanies the reader, familiar with algebra and geometry at the masters level, in learning the basics of this rich theory, as much as it brings to the most advanced reader many fundamental results often missing from the available literature, the “folklore”. In particular, the introduction of topological methods of the theory to non-specialists is one of the original features of the book. The first three chapters introduce the basis and classical methods of real and complex algebraic geometry. The last three chapters each focus on one more specific aspect of real algebraic varieties. A panorama of classical knowledge is presented, as well as major developments of the last twenty years in the topology and geometry of varieties of dimension two and three, without forgetting curves, the central subject of Hilbert's famous sixteenth problem. Various levels of exercises are given, and the solutions of many of them are provided at the end of each chapter.

"... To sum up, this book helps to learn algebraic geometry in a short time, its concrete style is enjoyable for students and reveals the beauty of mathematics." --Acta Scientiarum Mathematicarum

The classification theory of algebraic varieties is the focus of this book. This very active area of research is still developing, but an amazing quantity of knowledge has accumulated over the past twenty years. The authors goal is to provide an easily accessible introduction to the subject. The book starts with preparatory and standard definitions and results, then moves on to discuss various aspects of the geometry of smooth projective varieties with many rational curves, and finishes in taking the first steps towards Moris minimal model program of classification of algebraic varieties by proving the cone and contraction theorems. The book is well-organized and the author has kept the number of concepts that are used but not proved to a minimum to provide a mostly self-contained introduction.

This book provides a gentle introduction to the foundations of Algebraic Geometry, starting from computational topics (ideals and homogeneous ideals, zero loci of ideals) up to increasingly intrinsic and abstract arguments, such as 'Algebraic Varieties', whose natural continuation is a more advanced course on the theory of schemes, vector bundles, and sheaf-cohomology.Valuable to students studying Algebraic Geometry and Geometry, this title contains around 60 exercises (with solutions) to help students thoroughly understand the theories introduced in the book. Proofs of the results are carried out in full detail. Many examples are discussed in order to reinforce the understanding of both the theoretical elements and their consequences, as well as the possible applications of the material.

Lecture notes from the Third Summer Session of the Regional Geometry Institute, held in Park City, Utah, in 1993.

The book covers topics in the theory of algebraic transformation groups and algebraic varieties which are very much at the frontier of mathematical research.