Related papers: Six Lectures on Four 4-Manifolds

We derive an obstruction to representing a homology class of a symplectic 4-manifold by an embedded, possibly disconnected, symplectic surface.

Let $(M, \omega)$ be a connected, compact 6-dimensional symplectic manifold equipped with a semi-free Hamiltonian $S^1$ action such that the fixed point set consists of isolated points or surfaces. Assume dim $H^2(M)<3$, in \cite{L}, we…

We introduce a diffeomorphism invariant of $4$-manifolds, the $\mathrm{Pin}^-(2)$-monopole invariant, defined by using the $\mathrm{Pin}^-(2)$-monopole equations. We compute the invariants of several $4$-manifolds, and prove gluing…

A presymplectic structure on odd dimensional manifold is given by a closed 2-form which is nondegenerate, i.e., of maximal rank. We investigate geometry of presymplectic manifolds. Some basic theorems analogous to those in symplectic and…

These notes combine material from short lecture courses given in Paris, France, in July 2001 and in Srni, the Czech Republic, in January 2003. They discuss groups of symplectomorphisms of closed symplectic manifolds (M,\om) from various…

We prove a surgery formula for the ordinary Seiberg-Witten invariants, and surgery formulas for the families Seiberg-Witten invariants of families of $4$-manifolds obtained through fibrewise surgery. Our formula expresses the Seiberg-Witten…

The notion of a holomorphically symplectic manifold can be generalized to the singular one. This paper studies the birational contraction maps between symplectic varieties, and then describes the deformation of a symplectic variety which…

We study smooth projective varieties with small dual variety using methods from symplectic topology. We prove the affine parts of such varieties are subcritical, and that the hyperplane class is invertible in their quantum cohomology. We…

We produce infinite families of exotic actions of finite cyclic groups on simply connected smooth 4-manifolds with nontrivial Seiberg-Witten invariants.

We define a suitably tame class of singular symplectic curves in 4-manifolds, namely those whose singularities are modeled on complex curve singularities. We study the corresponding symplectic isotopy problem, with a focus on rational…

In this set of five lectures we present a basic toolbox to discuss the dynamics of four dimensional supersymmetric quantum field theories. In particular we overview the program of geometrically engineering the four dimensional…

We explain how a version of Floer homology can be used as an invariant of symplectic manifolds with $b_1>0$. As a concrete example, we look at four-manifolds produced from braids by a surgery construction. The outcome shows that the…

The symplectic cone of a closed oriented 4-manifold is the set of cohomology classes represented by symplectic forms. A well-known conjecture describes this cone for every minimal Kaehler surface. We consider the case of the elliptic…

The main result of this paper is a formula for calculating the Seiberg-Witten invariants of 4-manifolds with fixed-point free circle actions. This is done by showing under suitable conditions the existence of a diffeomorphism between the…

The main purpose of this paper is to summarize the basic ingredients, illustrated with examples, of a pseudoholomorphic curve theory for symplectic 4-orbifolds. These are extensions of relevant work of Gromov, McDuff and Taubes on…

This is a survey article about the connections between knot theory and four-dimensional topology. Every four-manifold can be represented in terms of a link, by a Kirby diagram. This point of view has led to progress in computing invariants…

We prove that homological stability fails for the moduli space of any simply-connected closed smooth 4-manifold in any degree of homology, unlike what happens in all dimensions $\neq 4$. We detect also the homological discrepancy between…

In this paper, results of J. Park and of B.D Park and Szabo on simply connected symplectic 4-manifolds are re-proven and extended to non-simply connected manifolds using Luttinger surgeries.

Seiberg-Witten theory leads to a delicate interplay between Riemannian geometry and smooth topology in dimension four. In particular, the scalar curvature of any metric must satisfy certain non-trivial estimates if the manifold in question…

This is a survey of known algorithms in algebraic topology with a focus on finite simplicial complexes and, in particular, simplicial manifolds. Wherever possible an elementary approach is chosen. This way the text may also serve as a…