The Thurston norm and three-dimensional Seiberg-Witten theory (Q1356396)

For a general algebraic surface \(2g-2 \geq |K\dot F|+ F\dot F\), when \(F\) is an embedded surface of genus \(g\) with positive self-intersection and \(K\) is the canonical homology class. The same inequality holds when there is an algebraically non-trivial number of solutions of the Seiberg-Witten equations: \(F_{A}^{+}=(\Psi,\overline{\Psi})\), \(\partial_{A} \Psi =0\) on a line bundle with first Chern class \(K\). These facts lead to a proof of the Thom conjecture: an algebraic curve in \(\mathbb{C} P^2\) realizes the minimal genus in a given homology class. In this paper a three-dimensional version of the Thom conjecture is proved using a norm on the second homology of irreducible, atoroidal 3-manifolds by \textit{W. P. Thurston} [Mem. Am. Math. Soc. 339, 99-130 (1986; Zbl 0585.57006)].