= Solution
The <Castelnuovo contraction criterion> says that a <smooth rational curve> $C$ on a <smooth projective surface> with $C^2=-1$ can be contracted by a <birational morphism> to a smooth point of a <smooth projective surface>. The contraction is an isomorphism away from $C$, and its inverse is the <blowup of a smooth algebraic surface> at that point. This is the algebraic contraction criterion, valid over the algebraically closed field here; it is not the rationality criterion bearing Castelnuovo's name.
By (b), every $C\in\operatorname{Neg}(K_X)$ satisfies the hypothesis. Therefore the required morphism exists:
$$
\boxed{f_1:X\to X_1,\quad f_1(C)=\{p\},\quad X_1\text{ smooth and projective},\quad X\setminus C\cong X_1\setminus\{p\}.}
$$
The PDF calls $f_1$ a birational map; the conclusion is stronger, since this map is everywhere defined and is a <birational morphism>.
Back to article page