Abstract:
Let $\Bbbk$ be any field of characteristic zero, $X$ be a del Pezzo
surface of degree $2$ and $G$ be a group acting on $X$. In this paper
we study $\Bbbk$-rationality questions for the quotient surface $X /
G$. If there are no smooth $\Bbbk$-points on $X / G$ then $X / G$ is
obviously non-$\Bbbk$-rational.
Assume that the set of smooth $\Bbbk$-points on the quotient is not
empty. We find a list of groups such that the quotient surface can be
non-$\Bbbk$-rational. For these groups we construct examples of both
$\Bbbk$-rational and non-$\Bbbk$-rational quotients of both
$\Bbbk$-rational and non-$\Bbbk$-rational del Pezzo surfaces of degree
$2$ such that the $G$-invariant Picard number of $X$ is $1$. For all
other groups we show that the quotient $X / G$ is always
$\Bbbk$-rational.
Key words and phrases:Rationality problems, del Pezzo surfaces, Minimal model program, Cremona group.