Symplectic fillings and positive scalar curvature (Q1269699)

Let \(X\) be a 4-manifold with contact boundary. The author proves that the monopole invariants of \(X\) introduced by \textit{P. B. Kronheimer} and \textit{T. S. Mrowka} [Invent. Math. 130, No. 2, 209-256 (1997; Zbl 0892.53015)] vanish under the following assumptions: (i) a connected component of the boundary of \(X\) carries a metric with positive scalar curvature and (ii) either \(b^+_2(X)> 0\) or the boundary of \(X\) is disconnected. As an application, the author shows that the Poincaré homology 3-sphere, oriented as the boundary of the positive \(E_8\) plumbing, does not carry symplectically semi-fillable contact structures. This proves, in particular, a conjecture of Gompf, and provides the first example of a 3-manifold which is not symplectically semi-fillable. Using work of Froyshov, the author also proves a result constraining the topology of symplectic fillings of rational homology 3-spheres having positive scalar curvature metrics.