Rational curves on holomorphic symplectic fourfolds

Brendan Hassett, Yuri Tschinkel

Published 1999-10-05, updated 2010-03-05Version 2

Let F be a polarized irreducible holomorphic symplectic fourfold, deformation equivalent to the Hilbert scheme parametrizing length-two zero-dimensional subschemes of a K3 surface. The homology group H^2(F,Z) is equipped with an integral symmetric nondegenerate form, the Beauville form. We give precise conjectures for the structure of the cone of effective curves - and by duality - the cone of ample divisors. Formally they are completely analogous to the results known for K3 surfaces, and they are expressed entirely in terms of the integers represented by the Beauville form restricted to Pic(F). We prove that these conjectures are true in an open subset of the moduli space using deformation theory. The Fano variety of lines contained in a cubic fourfold is an example of a holomorphic symplectic fourfold. Our conjectures imply many concrete geometric statements about cubic fourfolds which may be verified using projective geometry.