Diffeomorphisms, symplectic forms and Kodaira fibrations (Q1587496)

Let \(M\) be a compact oriented 4-manifold. If \(\omega \) is a symplectic form on \(M\), one might well ask whether the space of such forms is connected. In fact, it is not difficult to construct examples where the answer is negative. A more subtle question, however, is whether the group of orientation-preserving diffeomorphisms \(M\to M\) acts transitively on the set of connected components of the orientation-compatible symplectic structures. As was recently pointed out by \textit{C. T. McMullen} and \textit{C. H. Taubes} [Math. Res. Lett. 6, 681-696 (1999; Zbl 0964.53051)], there are 4-manifolds \(M\) for which this subtler question also has a negative answer. The purpose of the present note is to point out many examples of this interesting phenomenon arise from certain complex surfaces with Kodaira fibrations. A Kodaira fibration is by definition a holomorphic submersion \(f:M\to B\) from a compact complex surface to a compact complex curve, with base \(B\) and fiber both of genus \(\geq 2\). Let \(\psi\) denote Kähler form on \(M\). Let \(\varphi\) be any area form on \(B\), compatible with its complex orientation, and for \(\varepsilon >0\) consider the closed 2-form \(\omega=\varepsilon \psi -f^{*}\varphi\). Thus, for sufficiently small \(\varepsilon >0\), \(\omega\) is a symplectic form for the reverse-oriented 4-manifold \(\overline{M}\). Definition. Let \(M\) be a complex surface equipped with two Kodaira fibrations \(f_j:M\to B_j\), \(j=1,2\). Let \(g_j\) denote the genus of \(B_j\), and suppose that the induced map \(f_1\times f_2: M\to B_1\times B_2\) has degree \(r>0\). We will then say that \((f_1,f_2)\) is a Kodaira double-fibration of \(M\) if the signature \(\tau(M)\neq 0\) and \((g_2-1)\nmid r(g_1-1)\). Given a Kodaira double-fibered surface \((M,f_1,f_2)\) we now have two different symplectic structures \(\omega_1\) and \(\omega_2\) on \(\overline{M}\). Theorem. Let \((M,f_1,f_2)\) be any Kodaira double-fibered complex surface. Then for any diffeomorphism \(\Phi:M\to M\), the symplectic structures \(\omega_1\) and \(\pm\Phi^{*}\omega_2\) are deformation inequivalent.