Sufficient bigness criterion for differences of two nef classes

Abstract

We prove the qualitative part of Demailly's conjecture on transcendental Morse inequalities for differences of two nef classes satisfying a numerical relative positivity condition on an arbitrary compact K\"ahler (and even more general) manifold. The result improves on an earlier one by J. Xiao whose constant $4n$ featuring in the hypothesis is now replaced by the optimal and natural $n$. Our method follows arguments by Chiose as subsequently used by Xiao up to the point where we introduce a new way of handling the estimates in a certain Monge-Amp\`ere equation. This result is needed to extend to the K\"ahler case and to transcendental classes the Boucksom-Demailly-Paun-Peternell cone duality theorem if one is to follow these authors' method and was conjectured by them.