Related papers: The symplectic mapping class group of $\CC P^2 n{\…

Proving a conjecture of Dennis Johnson, we show that the Torelli subgroup of the mapping class group has a finite generating set whose size grows cubically with respect to the genus of the surface. Our main tool is a new space called the…

For a smooth map $f:X^4\to\Sigma^2$ that is locally modeled by holomorphic maps, the domain is shown to admit a symplectic structure that is symplectic on some regular fiber, if and only if $f^*[\Sigma]\ne0$. If so, the space of symplectic…

We construct closed symplectic manifolds for which spherical classes generate arbitrarily large subspaces in 2-homology, such that the first Chern class and cohomology class of the symplectic form both vanish on all spherical classes. We…

Let $S_{g,n}$ be an oriented surface of genus $g$ with $n$ punctures, where $2g-2+n>0$ and $n>0$. Any ideal triangulation of $S_{g,n}$ induces a global parametrization of the Teichm\"uller space $\mathcal{T}_{g,n}$ called the shearing…

The hyperelliptic Torelli group is the subgroup of the mapping class group consisting of elements that act trivially on the homology of the surface and that also commute with some fixed hyperelliptic involution. We prove a Birman exact…

A study of certain symplectic $4$-orbifolds with vanishing canonical class is initiated. We show that for any such symplectic $4$-orbifold $X$, there is a canonically constructed symplectic $4$-orbifold $Y$, together with a cyclic orbifold…

We construct a splitting of the cohomology of configuration spaces of points on a smooth proper variety with a multiplicative Chow--K\"unneth decomposition. Applied to hyperelliptic curves, this shows that the hyperelliptic Torelli group…

Any nontrivial homomorphism from the mapping class group of an orientable surface of genus $g\geq 3$ to $\GL(2g,\C)$ is conjugate to the standard symplectic representation. It is also shown that the mapping class group has no faithful…

In terms of the gauged nonlinear $\sigma$-models, we describe some results and implications of solving the following problem: Given a smooth symplectic manifold as target space with a quasi-free Hamiltonian group action, perform the…

Our previous papers introduce topological notions of normal crossings symplectic divisor and variety, show that they are equivalent, in a suitable sense, to the corresponding geometric notions, and establish a topological smoothability…

Let M be the product of \C P^m and \C P^n, with the standard integral symplectic form. We prove that the inclusion map from the group of symplectic automorphisms of M to its diffeomorphism group is not surjective on homotopy groups. More…

This paper is a new important step towards the complete classification of the finite simple groups which are $(2, 3)$-generated. In fact, we prove that the symplectic groups $Sp_{2n}(q)$ are $(2,3)$-generated for all $n\geq 4$. Because of…

For a given spectral curve, we construct a family of symplectic dual spectral curves for which we prove an explicit formula expressing the $n$-point functions produced by the topological recursion on these curves via the $n$-point functions…

The main aim of this article is to study the quantitative structure of projective symplectic groups $PSp_{4}(q)$ with $q>2$ even. Indeed, we prove that the groups $PSp_{4}(q)$ with $q>2$ even are uniquely determined by their orders and the…

Let $\mathsf{X}$ be the product of a complex projective space and a polydisc. We study Poisson brackets on $\mathsf{X}$ that are log symplectic, that is, generically symplectic and such that the inverse two-form has only first order poles.…

Let $X_n$ be a cycle of $n$ projective lines, and $\bT_n$ a symplectic torus with $n$ punctures. Using the theory of spherical twists introduced by Seidel and Thomas (2001), I will define an action of the pure mapping class group of $\bT_n$…

Let $X$ be a compact, oriented, smooth, simply-connected $4$-manifold. The mapping class group of $X$ is defined as the group of smooth isotopy classes of diffeomorphisms of $X$. The Torelli group of $X$ is the subgroup of the mapping class…

The extended mapping class group of a surface $\Sigma$ is defined to be the group of isotopy classes of (not necessarily orientation-preserving) homeomorphisms of $\Sigma$. We are able to show that the extended mapping class group of an…

We call a conjugacy class of the symplectic group Sp$(2n, K)$ over a field $K$ strictly hyperbolic if its minimal polynomial is of the form $q(x) q^*(x)$, where the polynomial $q(x)$ is prime to its reciprocal $q^*(x) := x^n q(x^{-1})$. It…

Using the existence of certain symplectic submanifolds in symplectic 4-manifolds, we prove an estimate from above for the number of singular fibers with separating vanishing cycles in minimal Lefschetz fibrations over surfaces of positive…