The Kodaira dimension of Hilbert modular threefolds

Abstract

Following a method introduced by Thomas-Vasquez and developed by Grundman, we prove that many Hilbert modular threefolds of arithmetic genus $0$ and $1$ are of general type, and that some are of nonnegative Kodaira dimension. The new ingredient is a detailed study of the geometry and combinatorics of totally positive integral elements $x$ of a fractional ideal $I$ in a totally real number field $K$ with the property that $\mathop{\mathrm{tr}} xy < \mathop{\mathrm{min}} I \mathop{\mathrm{tr}} y$ for some $y \gg 0 \in K$.