Norms on the cohomology of a 3-manifold and SW theory. (Q1880012)

Let \(N\) be a closed oriented \(3\)-manifold with \(b_1(N)>1\). McMullen has given a bound [\textit{C. McMullen}, Ann. Sci. École Sup. 35, No. 2, 153--171 (2002; Zbl 1009.57021)] between the Alexander norm and the Thurston norm of \(N\) of the form \(| | \phi| | _A\leq | | \phi| | _T\), for \(\phi\in H^1(N;\mathbb{Z})\). By using the Seiberg-Witten equations on \(N\), the author gives a new proof of this inequality. This is based on the fact that \(| | \phi| | _A\) is the maximum of \(c\cdot \phi\), where \(c\) runs over the elements in \(c\in H^2(N;\mathbb{Z})/Tor\) with associated non-trivial Seiberg-Witten invariant, whereas \(| | \phi| | _T\) is the maximum of \(c\cdot \phi\), where \(c\) runs over the monopoles classes (i.e., those for which the Seiberg-Witten equations have non-empty moduli space). These techniques are also used to study the case in which the \(4\)-manifold \(N\times S^1\) is symplectic. It is proved that the unit balls of the Thurston and Alexander norms are related in a way similar to the case in which \(N\) is a fibered \(3\)-manifold (this is in accordance with the conjecture which says that if \(N\times S^1\) is symplectic then \(N\) should be fibered). The author gives an explicit example of a \(2\)-cohomology class on a symplectic manifold of the type \(N\times S^1\), which cannot be represented by a symplectic form, whereas it lies in the positive cone and satisfies the known constraints from \textit{C. Taubes}, [Math. Res. Lett. 2, No.1, 9-13 (1995; Zbl 0854.57019)]. This disproves a conjecture of Li and Liu.