April 30, 2007

Chris Wendl (MIT):   Intersection Theory and Compactness for Holomorphic Curves in Low Dimensions

Abstract: 

I will explain a recent result strengthening the standard compactness theorem for a geometrically natural class of embedded holomorphic curves in contact 3-manifolds: it turns out the intersection theory of punctured holomorphic curves can be used to rule out multiple covers in the limit, so that transversality is never a problem.  This has applications to the theory of finite energy foliations, as well as suggesting an approach for defining distinctly "low dimensional" versions of Contact Homology and SFT.  I will also describe some related results in symplectic 4-manifolds and nontrivial symplectic cobordisms, which are part of a larger program to justify the statement that "nice holomorphic curves degenerate nicely".


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