Symplectic but Not Complex Manifolds.

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the relationship between symplectic and complex manifolds, specifically exploring whether every symplectic manifold can be endowed with a complex structure. Participants examine examples and references related to this topic, including specific cases and the implications of certain mathematical structures.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that every complex manifold can be given a symplectic structure using the form w:=dz/\dz^, where dz^ is the conjugate of dz, although this form is only locally defined.
  • Others argue that not every symplectic manifold can be given a complex structure, suggesting that examples or results are needed to illustrate this point.
  • A participant mentions the Hopf surface S^1 x S^3 as a complex manifold that does not admit a symplectic structure, citing its cohomology properties.
  • Another participant references the work of Gompf, who discovered non-Kahler symplectic manifolds that do not satisfy the Hodge decomposition on cohomology, indicating a more complex relationship between these structures.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that while every complex manifold can have a symplectic structure, the converse—that every symplectic manifold can have a complex structure—remains a contested issue with no consensus on specific examples or results.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the limitations of local definitions of symplectic forms and the complexities involved in establishing global properties. Specific examples mentioned, such as the Hopf surface and the work of Gompf, suggest that the relationship between symplectic and complex structures is nuanced and requires careful consideration of cohomological properties.

Bacle2
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Hi, All:
AFAIK, every complex manifold can be given a symplectic structure, by using

w:=dz/\dz^ , where dz^ is the conjugate of dz, i.e., this form is closed,

and symplectic. Still, I think the opposite is not true, i.e., not every symplectic

manifold can be given a complex structure. Does anyone know of examples/results?

I heard something about an equivalence between Lefschetz fibrations (or pencils)

and existence of symplectic structures, but I cannot think of examples.

Any Ideas?
 
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Bacle2 said:
Hi, All:
AFAIK, every complex manifold can be given a symplectic structure, by using

w:=dz/\dz^ , where dz^ is the conjugate of dz, i.e., this form is closed,

and symplectic.

But this form is defined only locally. And trying to patch it globally, you may lose closedness. In her (free, available on her website) book, Ana Cana da Silva mentions the Hopf surface S^1 x S^3 as a complex manifold that does not admit a symplectic structure (obviously since H^2(S^1 x S^3) = 0 x H^2(S^3)=0.) See p.122.

Bacle2 said:
Still, I think the opposite is not true, i.e., not every symplectic

manifold can be given a complex structure. Does anyone know of examples/results?

For this Silva gives a reference for an example of Ferdandez-Gotay-Gray that is a circle bundle over a circle bundle over the 2-torus. (p.121)
 
Bacle, I think you mean to say that every Kahler manifold can be given a symplectic structure. That the converse is not true is much more delicate. Gompf discovered non-Kahler symplectic manifolds in the 80's, using some surgery construction to produce symplectic manifolds that do not satisfy the Hodge decomposition on cohomology.
 
Thanks, both for your comments, refs., I will look into them.
 

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