The geometric minimal models of analytic spaces

This paper shows that an analytic space X has a unique maximal model through which every proper surjective morphism from a non-singular analytic space to X factors. This is called the geometric minimal model of X and characterized by the contraction property of rational curves. Some other properties such as functoriality, the direct product property and the quotient property of the geometric minimal model are also studied here. The relation of the geometric minimal model with Mori's minimal model is discussed. Received: 25 June 2001 / Published online: 4 April 2002