On uniqueness of symplectic fillings of links of some surface singularities (Q6165136)

The goal of the paper is to present an alternative proof of uniqueness of symplectic fillings for a large subset of links of rational surface singularities with reduced fundamental cycle, namely those described by a resolution graph with each vertex weighted at most \(-5\), which was first proved in [\textit{O. Plamenevskaya} and \textit{L. Starkston}, Geom. Topol. 27, No. 3, 1083--1202 (2023; Zbl 1523.14066)]. \textit{D. Gay} and \textit{T. E. Mark} have shown in [J. Symplectic Geom. 11, No. 3, 363--375 (2013; Zbl 1281.53077)] that every such singularity link admits a planar supporting open book, hence it follows from [\textit{K. Niederkrüger} and \textit{C. Wendl}, Ann. Sci. Éc. Norm. Supér. (4) 44, No. 5, 801--853 (2011; Zbl 1239.53101)] that each of its symplectic fillings, up to blow-up and symplectic deformation, has a Lefschetz fibration structure prescribed by a positive factorisation of the monodromy of said open book. The author uses combinatorial arguments in the spirit of [\textit{O. Plamenevskaya} and \textit{J. van Horn-Morris}, Geom. Topol. 14, No. 4, 2077--2101 (2010; Zbl 1319.57019)] to show that the monodromy of the Gay-Mark open book admits a unique positive factorisation, which yields the result. For the entire collection see [Zbl 1515.57005].