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For an integral curve $C$ on a smooth projective surface, $2p_a(C)-2=C\cdot (C+K_X)$. Apply Riemann–Roch theorem for algebraic surfaces to the divisor restriction exact sequence $0\to {\mathcal{O}}_X(-C)\to {\mathcal{O}}_X\to {\mathcal{O}}_C\to 0$ to derive it. This arithmetic version applies also to singular curves and in arbitrary characteristic.

If $D$ is a nontrivial nef divisor on a K3 surface with $D^2=0$, its complete linear system of a divisor has no fixed part. Write $D=F+M$. Nefness of $D$ and $M$ gives $D\cdot F=D\cdot M=M^2=M\cdot F=F^2=0$. But a nonzero fixed part satisfies $h^0(F)=1$, while Riemann–Roch theorem for algebraic surfaces and Serre duality would give $h^0(F)\ge 2$ if $F^2=0$. Hence $F=0$. Two movable members with no common component have intersection zero and are disjoint, so the system is basepoint-free and has Iitaka dimension one.

Let $C\in \mathrm{Neg}(K_X)$. The arithmetic adjunction formula on a smooth surface givesWe first exclude $C^2\ge 0$, following the PDF's hint and the finiteness proved in (a).

If $C^2=0$, adjunction and $K_X\cdot C<0$ force $p_a(C)=0$ and $K_X\cdot C=-2$. An integral projective curve of arithmetic genus zero is a smooth rational curve: normalization and the nonnegative singularity-length correction show both normalization genus and singularity correction vanish. Part (iii) makes $C$ semiample. Choose a basepoint-free $|mC|$. Over the infinite algebraically closed field, a general section avoids containing any of the finitely many curves of $\mathrm{Neg}(K_X)$ as a component. Its effective divisor $G$ then has $K_X\cdot G\ge 0$, but $K_X\cdot G=m{K}_X\cdot C<0$, a contradiction.

If $C^2>0$, Riemann–Roch theorem for algebraic surfaces and Serre duality show $h^0(X,mC)$ is unbounded. Indeed $h^2(X,mC)=h^0(X,K_X-mC)=0$ for $m\gg 0$, because the latter divisor has negative intersection with a fixed ample divisor. HenceThere is therefore some $m$ with $h^0(X,mC)>h^0(X,(m-1)C)$, giving a section whose divisor does not contain $C$. The canonical section of $mC$ does not vanish identically along any other curve. A general linear combination of these two sections consequently contains none of the finite set $\mathrm{Neg}(K_X)$, again contradicting its negative canonical intersection. Thus $C^2<0$.

Now put $a=-C^2\ge 1$ and $b=-K_X\cdot C\ge 1$. Adjunction givesIt follows that $a=b=1$ and $p_a(C)=0$. HenceThe general-section argument only avoids finitely many proper linear subspaces, so it works over any algebraically closed field, including positive characteristic.

First derive the intersection constraints. Since $D$ is nef and $F,M$ are effective, $D\cdot F,D\cdot M\ge 0$; their sum is $D^2=0$, so both vanish. Since the movable divisor $M$ is nef, $M^2,M\cdot F\ge 0$, and $M\cdot D=0$ forces both to vanish. In particularFor every component $E$ of $F$, nefness and $D\cdot F=0$ imply $D\cdot E=0$. The isotropic orthogonality consequence of the Hodge index theorem gives $E^2\le 0$. If $E^2=0$, Riemann–Roch theorem for algebraic surfaces and Serre duality give $h^0(X,E)\ge 2$, since $-E$ cannot be effective. Choose $E^{\prime }\in |E|$ different from $E$. It cannot contain $E$: otherwise $E^{\prime }-E$ would be a nonzero effective numerically trivial divisor, contradicting its positive intersection with an ample divisor. Choose a member of $|M|$ avoiding $E$. Replacing one copy of $E$ in $F$ by $E^{\prime }$ now produces a member of $|D|$ with smaller multiplicity along $E$, contradicting the definition of the fixed part. Therefore

The strict statement as printed needs the qualification if $F\ne 0$. Part (a) already shows $F^2=0$ in the present situation, and the next part proves $F=0$; an unconditional $F^2<0$ would contradict that conclusion.

To prove the needed conditional statement, suppose $F\ne 0$. A fixed part has $h^0(X,F)=1$. Indeed, a different $F^{\prime }\in |F|$ has smaller multiplicity along some component of $F$; otherwise $F^{\prime }-F$ would be a nonzero effective linearly trivial divisor. Adding a member of the movable part avoiding that component contradicts fixedness.

The Hodge index theorem for algebraic surfaces, together with $D\cdot F=0$ and $D^2=0$, gives $F^2\le 0$. If equality held, Riemann–Roch theorem for algebraic surfaces would give $\chi (X,F)=2$, and Serre duality would give $h^2(X,F)=h^0(X,-F)=0$. Hence $h^0(X,F)=2+h^1(X,F)\ge 2$, a contradiction. ThereforeThis is the fixed-part elimination on a K3 surface argument.

Choose an ample divisor $A$. The Hodge index theorem for algebraic surfaces implies $D\cdot A>0$: if it were zero, $D^2=0$ would force the numerical class of $D$ to be zero. Consequently $-D$ cannot be effective, because every nonzero effective divisor has positive intersection with $A$, while $-D\cdot A<0$.

The Riemann–Roch theorem for algebraic surfaces and the preceding computation give $\chi (X,{\mathcal{O}}_X(D))=2+D^2/2=2$. By Serre duality, $h^2(X,D)=h^0(X,-D)=0$. Thus