The Geometry and Moduli of K3 Surfaces

These notes will give an introduction to the theory of K3 surfaces. We begin with some general results on K3 surfaces, including the construction of their moduli space and some of its properties. We then move on to focus on the theory of polarized K3 surfaces, studying their moduli, degenerations and the compactification problem. This theory is then further enhanced to a discussion of lattice polarized K3 surfaces, which provide a rich source of explicit examples, including a large class of lattice polarizations coming from elliptic fibrations. Finally, we conclude by discussing the ample and Kahler cones of K3 surfaces, and give some of their applications.Comment: 34 pages, 2 figures. (R. Laza, M. Schutt and N. Yui, eds.

The Kodaira dimension of the moduli of K3 surfaces

The moduli space of polarised K3 surfaces of degree 2d is a quasi-projective variety of dimension 19. For general d very little has been known about the Kodaira dimension of these varieties. In this paper we present an almost complete solution to this problem. Our main result says that this moduli space is of general type for d>61 and for d=46,50,54,58,60.Comment: 47 page

Symplectic involutions on deformations of K3^[2]

Let X be a Hyperk\"{a}hler variety deformation equivalent to the Hilbert square on a K3 surface and let f be an involution preserving the symplectic form. We prove that the fixed locus of f consists of 28 isolated points and 1 K3 surface, moreover the anti-invariant lattice of the induced involution on H^2(X,Z) is isomorphic to E_8(-2). Finally we prove that any couple consisting of one such variety and a symplectic involution on it can be deformed into a couple consisting of the Hilbert square of a K3 surface and the involution induced by a Nikulin involution on the K3 surface.Comment: Final version, to appear on Central European Journal of Mathematic

Classification of K3-surfaces with involution and maximal symplectic symmetry

K3-surfaces with antisymplectic involution and compatible symplectic actions of finite groups are considered. In this situation actions of large finite groups of symplectic transformations are shown to arise via double covers of Del Pezzo surfaces. A complete classification of K3-surfaces with maximal symplectic symmetry is obtained.Comment: 26 pages; final publication available at http://www.springerlink.co

Families of Quintic Calabi-Yau 3-Folds with Discrete Symmetries

At special loci in their moduli spaces, Calabi-Yau manifolds are endowed with discrete symmetries. Over the years, such spaces have been intensely studied and have found a variety of important applications. As string compactifications they are phenomenologically favored, and considerably simplify many important calculations. Mathematically, they provided the framework for the first construction of mirror manifolds, and the resulting rational curve counts. Thus, it is of significant interest to investigate such manifolds further. In this paper, we consider several unexplored loci within familiar families of Calabi-Yau hypersurfaces that have large but unexpected discrete symmetry groups. By deriving, correcting, and generalizing a technique similar to that of Candelas, de la Ossa and Rodriguez-Villegas, we find a calculationally tractable means of finding the Picard-Fuchs equations satisfied by the periods of all 3-forms in these families. To provide a modest point of comparison, we then briefly investigate the relation between the size of the symmetry group along these loci and the number of nonzero Yukawa couplings. We include an introductory exposition of the mathematics involved, intended to be accessible to physicists, in order to make the discussion self-contained.Comment: 54 pages, 3 figure

K3 surfaces and log del Pezzo surfaces of index three

We use classification of non-symplectic automorphisms of K3 surfaces to obtain a partial classification of log del Pezzo surfaces of index three. We can classify those with "Multiple Smooth Divisor Property", whose definition we will give. Our methods include the definition of right resolutions of quotient singularities of index three and some analysis of automorphism-stable elliptic fibrations on K3 surfaces. In particular we find several log del Pezzo surfaces of Picard number one with non-toric singularities of index three.Comment: 32 pages, to appear in Manuscripta Mat

On the 0-dimensional cusps of the Kahler moduli of a K3 surface

Let S be a projective K3 surface. It is proved that the 0-dimensional cusps of the Kahler moduli of S are in one-to-one correspondence with the twisted Fourier-Mukai partners of S. This leads to a counting formula for the 0-dimensional cusps of the Kahler moduli. Applications to rational maps between K3 surfaces with large Picard numbers are given. When the Picard number of S is 1, the bijective correspondence is calculated explicitly.Comment: 24page

Wave kinetics of random fibre lasers

Traditional wave kinetics describes the slow evolution of systems with many degrees of freedom to equilibrium via numerous weak non-linear interactions and fails for very important class of dissipative (active) optical systems with cyclic gain and losses, such as lasers with non-linear intracavity dynamics. Here we introduce a conceptually new class of cyclic wave systems, characterized by non-uniform double-scale dynamics with strong periodic changes of the energy spectrum and slow evolution from cycle to cycle to a statistically steady state. Taking a practically important example—random fibre laser—we show that a model describing such a system is close to integrable non-linear Schrödinger equation and needs a new formalism of wave kinetics, developed here. We derive a non-linear kinetic theory of the laser spectrum, generalizing the seminal linear model of Schawlow and Townes. Experimental results agree with our theory. The work has implications for describing kinetics of cyclical systems beyond photonics

Lagrangian fibrations of holomorphic-symplectic varieties of K3^[n]-type

Let X be a compact Kahler holomorphic-symplectic manifold, which is deformation equivalent to the Hilbert scheme of length n subschemes of a K3 surface. Let L be a nef line-bundle on X, such that the 2n-th power of c_1(L) vanishes and c_1(L) is primitive. Assume that the two dimensional subspace H^{2,0}(X) + H^{0,2}(X), of the second cohomology of X with complex coefficients, intersects trivially the integral cohomology. We prove that the linear system of L is base point free and it induces a Lagrangian fibration on X. In particular, the line-bundle L is effective. A determination of the semi-group of effective divisor classes on X follows, when X is projective. For a generic such pair (X,L), not necessarily projective, we show that X is bimeromorphic to a Tate-Shafarevich twist of a moduli space of stable torsion sheaves, each with pure one dimensional support, on a projective K3 surface.Comment: 34 pages. v3: Reference [Mat5] and Remark 1.8 added. Incorporated improvement to the exposition and corrected typos according to the referees suggestions. To appear in the proceedings of the conference Algebraic and Complex Geometry, Hannover 201