FANO VARIETIES OF MIDDLE PSEUDOINDEX

arXiv:2403.14065v1 [math.AG] 21 Mar 2024

KIWAMU WATANABE

Abstract. Let X be a complex smooth Fano variety of dimension n. In this

paper, we give a classification of such X when the pseudoindex is equal to
dim X + 1
and the Picard number greater than one.
2

1. Introduction
Let X be an n-dimensional smooth Fano variety, which is a complex smooth
projective variety endowed with an ample anticanonical divisor −KX . The index
of X is defined as
iX := max{m ∈ Z>0 | −KX = mL for some L ∈ Pic(X)}.
Mukai formulated a conjecture concerning the index iX and the Picard number ρX :
Conjecture 1.1 (Mukai conjecture [15, Conjecture 4]). We have ρX (iX − 1) ≤ n,
with equality if and only if X is isomorphic to (PiX −1 )ρX .
As a specific case of this conjecture, Mukai also conjectured that if 2iX is at
least n + 2, then ρX is one unless X is isomorphic to (PiX −1 )2 [15, Conjecture 4’].
To prove this, Wiśniewski [16] introduced the notion of pseudoindex ιX of X:
ιX := min{−KX · C | C ⊂ X is a rational curve},
and arrived at the following theorem:
Theorem 1.2 ([16, 17]). For an n-dimensional smooth Fano variety X, the fol-
lowing statements hold:
(i) If 2ιX > n + 2, then ρX = 1.
(ii) If 2iX = n + 2 and ρX > 1, then X is isomorphic to (PiX −1 )2 .
(iii) If 2iX = n + 1 and ρX > 1, then X is isomorphic to one of the following:
P(OPiX (2) ⊕ OPiX (1)⊕iX −1 ), PiX −1 × QiX or P(TPiX ).
m
Here, Q denotes a smooth quadric hypersurface, and TPm represents the tangent
bundle of Pm .
Theorem 1.2 (i) and (ii) provide an affirmative answer to [15, Conjecture 4’].
Following this, by substituting the index iX with the pseudoindex ιX , Bonavero-
Casagrande-Debarre-Druel proposed a generalized version of Conjecture 1.1:
Conjecture 1.3 (generalized Mukai conjecture [2, Conjecture]). We have ρX (ιX −
1) ≤ n, with equality if and only if X is isomorphic to (PιX −1 )ρX .

Date: March 22, 2024.

2020 Mathematics Subject Classification. 14J40, 14J45.
Key words and phrases. Fano varieties, middle pseudoindex.
The author is partially supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 21K03170.
1
2 KIWAMU WATANABE

Additionally, Occhetta established in [13, Corollary 4.3] that a smooth Fano

variety X is isomorphic to (PιX −1 )2 if 2ιX equals n + 2 and ρX is greater than one.
By combining this with Theorem 1.2 (i), a generalized version of [15, Conjecture 4’]
was derived. The aim of this brief paper is to establish the following theorem as an
extension of Theorem 1.2 (iii):
Theorem 1.4. Let X be a smooth Fano variety of dimension n. If 2ιX = n + 1
and ρX > 1, then X is isomorphic to one of the following:
(i) the blow-up of projective space Pn along a linear subspace PιX −2 , i.e.,
P(OPιX (2) ⊕ OPιX (1)⊕ιX −1 );
(ii) the product of projective space PιX −1 and a quadric hypersurface QιX , i.e.,
PιX −1 × QιX ;
(iii) the projectivization of the tangent bundle TPιX of PιX , i.e., P(TPιX );
(iv) the product of projective spaces PιX −1 and PιX , i.e., PιX −1 × PιX .
In a manner akin to the argument presented in [17], the pivotal aspect of estab-
lishing Theorem 1.4 lies in proving that X possesses a projective bundle structure
π : X → W . Subsequently, we prove that the base variety W is either a pro-
jective space or a smooth quadric hypersurface. Applying [5, Corollary 4.7] and
[2, Lemme 2.5] (detailed in Proposition 2.2 below), we thereby derive our desired
conclusion.

Notation and Conventions. In this paper, we work over the complex number
field. Our notation is consistent with the books [6], [10] and [11].
• For projective varieties X, Y and F , a smooth surjective morphism f :
X → Y is called an F -bundle if any fiber of f is isomorphic to F . A
surjective morphism f : X → Y with connected fibers is called an F -
fibration if general fibers are isomorphic to F .
• A contraction of an extremal ray is called an elementary contraction.
• For a smooth projective variety X, we denote by ρX the Picard number
of X and by TX the tangent bundle of X.

2. Preliminaries
2.1. Fano varieties with large pseudoindex. Let us start by reviewing certain
results concerning Fano varieties with large pseudoindex.
Theorem 2.1 ([3], [9], [4]). Let X be a smooth Fano variety of dimension n with
pseudoindex ιX . Then the following holds.
(i) If ιX ≥ n + 1, then X is isomorphic to Pn .
(ii) If ιX = n, then X is isomorphic to Qn .
The next critical proposition contributes significantly to the proof of Theo-
rem 1.4:
Proposition 2.2. Let X be an n-dimensional smooth Fano variety with pseudoin-
n+1 n+1
dex ιX = . Assume X admits either a P 2 -bundle structure π : X → W or a
n−1
2
P 2 -bundle structure π : X → W . Then X is isomorphic to one of the following:
P(OPιX (2) ⊕ OPιX (1)⊕ιX −1 ), PιX −1 × QιX , P(TPιX ), PιX −1 × PιX .
 FANO VARIETIES OF MIDDLE PSEUDOINDEX 3

Proof. By [2, Lemme 2.5 (a)], W is a smooth Fano variety whose pseudoindex is
n+1 n−1 n+1
at least ιX = . Applying Theorem 2.1, W is isomorphic to P 2 , P 2 or
n+1
2
Q 2 . By [5, Proposition 4.3], there exists a vector bundle E over W such that
X∼
n+1 n−1
= P(E). When π : X → W is a P 2 -bundle, W is isomorphic to P 2 . In this
case, [2, Lemme 2.5 (c)] and [14] tell us that X is isomorphic to PιX −1 × PιX . When
n−1
π : X → W is a P 2 -bundle, our assertion is derived from [5, Corollary 4.7]. Thus
our assertion holds.
2.2. Extremal contractions. Extremal contractions play a pivotal role in the
study of Fano varieties. Here, we gather some results concerning extremal rays and
extremal contractions.
Definition 2.3. For a smooth projective variety X and its KX -negative extremal
ray R ⊂ N E(X), the length of R is defined as
ℓ(R) := min{−KX · C | C is a rational curve and [C] ∈ R}.
Theorem 2.4 (Ionescu-Wiśniewski inequality [8, Theorem 0.4], [18, Theorem 1.1]
). Let X be a smooth projective variety, and let ϕ : X → Y be a contraction of a KX -
negative extremal ray R, with E representing its exceptional locus. Additionally,
consider F as an irreducible component of a non-trivial fiber of ϕ. Then
dim E + dim F ≥ dim X + ℓ(R) − 1.
Theorem 2.5 ([7, Theorem 1.3]). Let X be a smooth projective variety, and let
ϕ : X → Y be a contraction of an extremal ray R such that any fiber has dimension
d and ℓ(R) = d + 1. Then ϕ is a projective bundle.
Theorem 2.6 ([1, Theorem 5.1]). For a smooth projective variety X of dimension
n, the following are equivalent:
(i) There exists an extremal ray R such that the contraction associated to R
is divisorial and the fibers have dimension ℓ(R).
(ii) X is the blow-up of a smooth projective variety X ′ along a smooth subva-
riety of codimension ℓ(R) + 1.
2.3. Families of Rational Curves. Let X denote a smooth projective variety,
and let us consider the space of rational curves RatCurvesn (X) (for details, see
[10, Section II.2]). A family of rational curves M on X refers to an irreducible
component of RatCurvesn (X). This family M is equipped with a P1 -bundle p : U →
M and an evaluation morphism q : U → X. The union of all curves parametrized
by M is denoted by Locus(M). For a point x ∈ X, the normalization of p(q −1 (x))
is denoted by Mx , and Locus(Mx ) denotes the union of all curves parametrized
by Mx .
A dominating family (resp. covering family) M is one where the evaluation mor-
phism q : U → X is dominant (or surjective). The family M is termed a minimal
rational component if it is a dominating family with the minimal anticanonical de-
gree among dominating families of rational curves on X. Additionally, M is called
locally unsplit if for a general point x ∈ Locus(M), Mx is proper. The family M
is called unsplit if it is proper.
Theorem 2.7 ([3]). Let X be an n-dimensional smooth Fano variety and M a
locally unsplit dominating family of rational curves on X. If the anticanonical
degree of M is at least n + 1, then X is isomorphic to Pn .
4 KIWAMU WATANABE

Proposition 2.8 ([10, IV Corollary 2.6]). Let X be a smooth projective variety

and M a locally unsplit family of rational curves on X. For a general point x ∈
Locus(M),
dim Locus(Mx ) ≥ deg(−KX ) M + codimX Locus(M) − 1.
Moreover if M is unsplit, this inequality holds for any point x ∈ Locus(M).

3. Proof of the main theorem

3.1. The case when X admits a birational elementary contraction. In this
subsection, we aim to establish the following proposition:
n+1
Proposition 3.1. Let X be a smooth Fano variety with ιX = and ρX > 1.
2
Assume there exists a birational contraction ϕ : X → Y of an extremal ray R.
Then X is isomorphic to P(OPιX (2) ⊕ OPιX (1)⊕ιX −1 ).
To prove this proposition, throughout this subsection, let X be a smooth Fano
n+1
variety with ιX = and ρX > 1. Assume there exists a birational contraction
2
ϕ : X → Y of an extremal ray R. We denote by E the exceptional locus of ϕ and
by F an irreducible component of a nontrivial fiber of ϕ.
Claim 3.2. The exceptional locus E forms a divisor, meaning that ϕ : X → Y is
a divisorial contraction.
Proof. Let us consider a minimal rational component M on X. According to The-
orem 2.7, the anticanonical degree of M is at most n. Combining with our assump-
tion that ιX = n+12 and [10, II, Proposition 2.2], it follows that M is an unsplit
covering family. For any x ∈ F , Proposition 2.8 implies dim Locus(Mx ) ≥ n−12 . To
establish our assertion, let us assume the contrary, namely codimX E ≥ 2. Then, by
Theorem 2.4, it follows that dim F ≥ n+32 . Consequently, dim(Locus(Mx )∩F ) ≥ 1.
This leads to a contradiction.
n+1
Utilizing Theorem 2.4, we infer dim F ≥ ιX = . Since the Kleiman-Mori
2
cone N E(X) of a Fano variety X is polyhedral and each extremal ray is generated
by a rational curve, we can identify an extremal ray R′ and a rational curve C ′ such
that R′ = R≥0 [C ′ ], ℓ(R′ ) = −KX · C ′ and E · C ′ > 0. We denote by ψ : X → Z
the contraction of an extremal ray R′ .
Claim 3.3. ψ : X → Z is of fiber type.
Proof. Assuming the contrary, that is, ψ is of birational type, let E ′ be the ex-
ceptional locus and F ′ an irreducible component of a nontrivial fiber of ψ. By
n+1
Theorem 2.4, we have dim F ′ ≥ ιX = . Since E · C ′ > 0, we have E ∩ E ′ 6= ∅.
2
By replacing the fibers F and F ′ if necessary, we may assume that F ∩ F ′ 6= ∅.
Then we obtain
n+1
dim F + dim F ′ − dim X ≥ × 2 − n = 1.
2
This leads to ϕ = ψ; this is a contradiction. Therefore, ψ : X → Z is of fiber type.
 FANO VARIETIES OF MIDDLE PSEUDOINDEX 5

′
Let Fgen denote any fiber of ψ whose dimension is equal to dim X − dim Z.
Applying Theorem 2.4, we have
′ n−1
(1) dim Fgen ≥ ℓ(R′ ) − 1 ≥ .
2
According to E · C ′ > 0, ψ|E : E → Z is surjective. Since ψ|F : F → Z is finite, we
have
n+1
(2) dim Z ≥ dim F ≥ .
2
′ n−1 n+1
Now we have n = dim X = dim Fgen + dim Z ≥ + = n. This yields
2 2
 
′

n−1 n+1
dim Fgen , dim Z = ,
2 2
n +1
Moreover (1) and (2) imply that ℓ(R′ ) = dim F = . Assume there exists a
2
′ ′ ′ n−1
jumping fiber Fsp of ψ, meaning dim Fsp > dim Fgen = . Taking an irreducible
′
2
component F of a nontrivial fiber of ϕ such that Fsp ∩ F 6= ∅, we have
′ n−1 n+1
dim Fsp + dim F − dim X > + − n = 0.
2 2
This is a contradiction. As a consequence, ψ is equidimensional. Since ℓ(R′ ) =
n+1 ′ n−1
= dim Fgen + 1, Theorem 2.5 tells us that ψ is a P 2 -bundle.
2
By Theorem 2.4, we have
n+1 n+1
n−1+ = dim E + dim F ≥ n + ℓ(R) − 1 ≥ n − 1 + .
2 2
n+1
This yields that, for any nontrivial fiber F of ϕ, we have dim F = = ℓ(R).
2
Applying Theorem 2.6, we see that ϕ : X → Y is the blow-up of a smooth variety
n+3
Y along a smooth subvariety ϕ(E) of codimension ℓ(R) + 1 = . Hence any
n+1
2
nontrivial fiber F of ϕ is isomorphic to P 2 . Since we have a finite morphism ψ|F :
n+1
F ∼
n+1
= P 2 → Z between smooth projective varieties of dimension , ψ|F : F →
2 n+1
Z is a finite surjective morphism. By [12, Theorem 4.1], Z is isomorphic to P 2 .
n+1 n−1
Since ψ : X → P 2 is a P 2 -bundle, Proposition 2.2 implies Proposition 3.1.
3.2. The case when any elementary contraction of X is of fiber type. In
this subsection, we aim to establish the following proposition:
n+1
Proposition 3.4. Let X be a smooth Fano variety with ιX = and ρX >
2
1. Assuming that any elementary contraction of X is of fiber type, then X is
isomorphic to PιX −1 × QιX , P(TPιX ), or PιX −1 × PιX .
To prove this proposition, throughout this subsection, we stay within the confines
of the present subsection, maintaining the setting where X is a smooth Fano variety
n+1
with ιX = and ρX > 1. Assume that any elementary contraction of X is of
2
fiber type. For different extremal rays R and R′ of N E(X), consider the elementary
contractions ϕ : X → Y and ψ : X → Z associated to R and R′ respectively. We
6 KIWAMU WATANABE

′
denote by Fgen (resp. Fgen ) any fiber of ϕ (resp. ψ) whose dimension is equal to
dim X − dim Y (resp. dim X − dim Z). Using Theorem 2.4, we infer
n−1 ′ n−1
(3) dim Fgen ≥ ℓ(R) − 1 ≥ and dim Fgen ≥ ℓ(R′ ) − 1 ≥ .
2 2
Since we have
′
(4) dim Fgen + dim Fgen − n ≤ 0,
′ n+1
it turns out that dim Fgen and dim Fgen are at most . Thus (dim Fgen , dim Y )
′
2
and (dim Fgen , dim Z) are either:
   
n+1 n−1 n−1 n+1
, or , .
2 2 2 2
We now claim:
Claim 3.5. ϕ and ψ are one of the following:
n+1
(i) a P 2 -bundle;
n+1
(ii) a Q 2 -fibration;
n−1
(iii) a P 2 -fibration.
n+1
Proof. It is enough to consider the structure of ϕ. Assume dim Fgen = . By
2
n+3
inequality (4), ϕ is equidimensional. By inequality (3), we see that ℓ(R) = or
2
n+1 n+1
. In the former case, it follows from Theorem 2.5 that ϕ is a P 2 -bundle. In
2 n+1
the latter case, following Theorem 2.1, ϕ is a Q 2 -fibration. On the other hand,
n−1 n−1
if dim Fgen = , then Theorem 2.1 yields that ϕ is a P 2 -fibration.
2
′
Without loss of generality, we may assume that dim Fgen ≥ dim Fgen . Then the
pair of ϕ and ψ is one of the following:
n+1 n−1
(A) ϕ is a P 2 -bundle and ψ is a P 2 -fibration;
n+1 n−1
(B) ϕ is a Q 2 -fibration and ψ is a P 2 -fibration;
n−1
(C) ϕ and ψ are P 2 -fibrations.
n−1
By inequality (4) and Theorem 2.5, in case (B), ψ is a P 2 -bundle. In case
n−1
(C), either ϕ or ψ turns into a P 2 -bundle. Consequently, Proposition 2.2 infers
Proposition 3.4.

3.3. Conclusion. By Proposition 3.1 and Proposition 3.4, we obtain Theorem 1.4.

Acknowledgments. The author would like to extend their gratitude to Professor

Taku Suzuki for reviewing the initial draft of this paper. Professor Suzuki not only
identified errors but also provided a proof of Claim 3.2.

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Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University.

1-13-27 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan
Email address: watanabe@math.chuo-u.ac.jp