Real nodal sextics without real nodes

Abstract

We present a rigid isotopy classification of irreducible sextic curves in $\mathbb{RP}^2$ which have non-real ordinary double points as their only singularities. Our approach uses periods of K3 surfaces and V. Nikulin's classification of involutions with condition on unimodular lattices. The classification obtained generalizes Nikulin's rigid isotopy classification of non-singular sextics in $\mathbb{RP}^2$.