\(G\)-monopole invariants on some connected sums of 4-manifolds (Q744903): Difference between revisions

Let \(M\) be a smooth closed oriented 4-dimensional manifold. A \textit{monopole class} of \(M\) is a second cohomology class which arises as the first Chern class of a Spin\(^c\) structure for which the Seiberg-Witten equations \[ D_A\Phi=0; F_A^{+}=\Phi\otimes \Phi^{\ast}-\frac{|\Phi|^2}{2}Id. \] admit a solution for every choice of a Riemannnian metric. If \(M\) admits a smooth action by a compact Lie group \(G\) preserving the orientation of \(M\), then a second cohomology class of \(M\) is called a \textit{G-monopole class} if it arises at the first Chern class of a \(G\)-equivariant Spin\(^c\) structure for which the Seiberg-Witten equations admit a \(G\)-invariant solution for every \(G\)-invariant Riemannian metric on \(M\). The author computes \(G\)-monopole invariants on some \(G\)-manifolds. For example, the connected sum of \(k\) copies of a 4-manifold with nontrivial mod 2 Seiberg-Witten invariant has nonzero \(\mathbb{Z}_k\) -monopole invariant mod 2, where the \(\mathbb{Z}_k\)-action is given by cyclic permutations of \(k\) summands. These results are based on the following general theorem. {Theorem 1.1.} Let \(M\) and \(N\) be smooth closed oriented connected 4-manifolds satisfying \(b_2^{+}(M)>1\) and \(b_2^{+}(N)=0\), and let \(\overline{M}_k\) be for any \(k\geq 2\) the connected sum \(M\sharp ...\sharp M\sharp N\) where there are \(k\) summands of \(M\). Suppose that a finite group \(G\) with \(|G|=k\) acts effectively on \(N\) in a smooth orientation-preserving way such that it is free or has at least one fixed point, and that \(N\) admits a Riemannian metric of positive scalar curvature invariant under the \(G\)-action and a \(G\)-equivariant Spin\(^c\) structure \(\mathfrak{s}_N\) with \(c_1^2(\mathfrak{s}_N)=-b_2(N)\). Define a \(G\)-action on \(\overline{M}_k\) induced from that of \(N\) permuting \(k\) summands of \(M\) glued along a free orbit in \(N\), and let \(\overline{\mathfrak{s}}\) be the Spin\(^c\) structure on \(\overline{M}_k\) obtained by gluing \(\mathfrak{s}_N\) and a Spin\(^c\) structure \(\mathfrak{s}\) of \(M\). Then for any \(G\)-action on \(\overline{\mathfrak{s}}\) covering the above \(G\)-action on \(\overline{M}_k\), the \(G\)-monopole invariant \(SW^G_{\overline{M}_k,\overline{\mathfrak{s}}}\) mod 2 is non trivial if \(SW_{M,\mathfrak{s}}\) mod 2 is nontrivial. (The \(G\)-monople invariant \(SW^G_{M,\mathfrak{s}}\) is that defined by \textit{Y. Ruan} [in: Topics in symplectic \(4\)-manifolds. 1st International Press lectures presented in Irvine, CA, USA, March 28--30, 1996. Cambridge, MA: International Press. 101--116 (1998; Zbl 0939.57024)] and which is sometimes sharper than the ordinary Seiberg-Witten invariant \(SW_{M,\mathfrak{s}}\).) As an interesting example the author proves the following theorem. {Theorem 4.4.} Let \(X\) be one of \[ S^4, \overline{\mathbb{C}P}_2, S^1\times(L_1\sharp...\sharp L_n), \widehat{S^1\times L} \] where the \(L_i\) and \(L\) are quotients of \(S^3\) by free actions of finite groups, and \(\widehat{S^1\times L}\) is the manifold obtained from the surgery on \(S^1\times L\) along an \(S^1\times\{pt\}\). Then for any integer \(l\geq 0\) and any smooth closed oriented 4-manifold \(Z\) with \(b_2^{+}(Z)=0\) admitting a metric of positive scalar curvature, \(X\sharp klZ\) satisfies the properties of \(N\) with \(G=\mathbb{Z}_k\) in Theorem 1.1, where the Spin\(^c\) structure of \(X\sharp klZ\) is given by gluing any Spin\(^c\) structure \(\mathfrak{s}_X\) on \(X\) and any Spin\(^c\) structure \(\mathfrak{s}_Z\) on \(Z\) satisfying \(c_1^2(\mathfrak{s}_X)=-b_2(X)\) and \(c_1^2(\mathfrak{s}_Z)=-b_2(Z)\) respectively.