On rationally connected varieties over $C_1$ fields of characteristic $0$

Abstract

We use birational geometry to show that the existence of rational points on proper rationally connected varieties over fields of characteristic $0$ is a consequence of the existence of rational points on terminal Fano varieties. We discuss several consequences of this result, especially in relation to the $C_1$-conjecture. We also provide evidence that supports the conjecture in dimension $3$ for $C_1$ fields of characteristic $0$.

arXiv comment30 pages; major revision, sections 4 and 5 added