On the cone of curves of an abelian variety

Abstract

Let $X$ be a smooth projective variety over the complex numbers. One knows by the Cone Theorem that the closed cone of curves of $X$ is rational polyhedral whenever $c_1(X)$ is ample. For varieties $X$ such that $c_1(X)$ is not ample, however, it is in general difficult to determine the structure of $\bar NE(X)$. The purpose of this paper is to study the cone of curves of abelian varieties. Specifically, the abelian varieties $X$ are determined such that the closed cone $\bar NE(X)$ is rational polyhedral. The result can also be formulated in terms of the nef cone of $X$ or in terms of the semi-group of effective classes in the Néron-Severi group of $X$.