A sharp lower bound for the canonical volume of 3-folds of general type

Abstract

Let V be a smooth projective 3-fold of general type. Denote by $K^3$, a rational number, the self-intersection of the canonical sheaf of any minimal model of V. One defines $K^3$ as the canonical volume of $V$. Assume $p_g\ge 2$. We show that $K^3\ge 1/3$, which is a sharp lower bound. Then we classify those V with small $K^3$ up to explicit tructure. We also give some new examples with $p_g=2$ which have maximal canonical stability index. Finally we give an application to certain algebraic 4-folds.

Final version, 22 pages, to appear in Math. Annalen