Properties of pseudo-holomorphic curves in symplectisations. II: Embedding controls and algebraic invariants (Q1901999)

This is the second in a series of papers in which the authors study the interplay between pseudoholomorphic curves, 3-dimensional topology and the dynamics of Reeb flows. If \((M, \lambda)\) is a compact 3-dimensional manifold equipped with a contact structure with associated Reeb vector field \(X\), there exists a related, very special, almost complex structure \(\widetilde {J}\) on the 4-dimensional manifold \(\mathbb{R} \times M\). The solutions \(\widetilde u:= (a,u) : \mathbb{C} \to \mathbb{R} \times M\) of the Cauchy-Riemann type equation \(\widetilde{J} \circ T \widetilde u=T\widetilde u \circ i\) having finite energies are intimately related to the dynamics of \(X\) on \(M\). In the non-degenerate case, the projection \(u : \mathbb{C} \to M\) tends asymptotically as \(|z|\to \infty\) to a periodic solution of \(X\). The paper studies how this limit orbit determines the geometry of \(u\). Various algebraic invariants introduced allow to decide about uniqueness and embedding properties. The concepts and results are extended to punctured pseudoholomorphic spheres of finite energies. The proofs make use of the asymptotic formula for finite energy planes presented in [Properties of pseudoholomorphic curves in symplectisations I: Asymptotics (to appear in Analyse Nonlinéaire 1996; Zbl 0861.58018)]. These results are crucial ingredients in the construction of open book decompositions of \((M, \lambda)\) whose pages are finite energy planes and whose bindings are distinguished periodic solutions of \(X\) in [A characterization of the tight three-sphere, Duke Math. J. 81, No. 1, 159-226 (1995)]. Dynamical consequences and existence of open book decompositions are presented in [The dynamics on three-dimensional strictly convex energy surfaces (preprint ETH Zürich 1995)]. Here the existence of global surfaces of sections for \(X\), in the sense of G. Birkhoff, is established for special contact manifolds \((M,\lambda)\). It is deduced that every Hamiltonian flow on a strictly convex 3-dimensional energy surface possesses either 2 or infinitely many periodic orbits.