Forms and Complex Manifolds

Abstract

We study the intersection form $F_X$ on the second cohomology group $H^2(X,\mathbb{Z})$ of a compact Kähler manifold $X$ of dimension $n$. Although the structure of $F_X$ is relatively well understood in dimensions two and three, much less is known for $n\ge 4$. We investigate the fundamental properties of $F_X$ in higher dimensions and discuss several applications to birational geometry. Finally, we present a number of open problems concerning the relationship between birational invariants and topological invariants of Kähler manifolds.

17 pages