Obstruction bundles over moduli spaces with boundary and the action filtration in symplectic field theory (Q641889)

Let \(V\) be an odd dimensional closed manifold equipped with a closed \(2\)-form \(\omega\) such that \(\ker\omega:=\{v\in TV\;|\;\omega(v,\;)=0\}\) has dimension 1, and there exists a \(1\)-form \(\lambda\) on \(V\), non-zero on \(\ker \omega\), such that \(\ker \omega\subset \ker d\lambda\). The pair \((\omega,\lambda)\) is called a \textit{stable Hamiltonian structure}. From this we obtain a symplectic distribution \((\ker\lambda, \omega)\) and a Reeb vector field \(R\in\ker\omega\) so \(\lambda(R)=1\). When \(\lambda\) is a contact form, the symplectic distribution is a contact structure. The author states in the introduction: ``Symplectic field theory assigns algebraic invariants to closed manifolds \(V\) with a stable Hamiltonian structure,...''. A \(J\)-holomophic curve is a map from a complex curve into an almost complex manifold satisfying the Cauchy-Riemann equation with respect to the almost complex structure \(J\). We are told that the ``algebraic invariants are defined by counting \(J\)-holomophic curves in \(\mathbb{R}\times V\) with finite energy.'' Referencing [\textit{Y. Eliashberg, A. Givental} and \textit{H. Hofer}, GAFA 2000. Visions in mathematics--Towards 2000. Proceedings of a meeting, Tel Aviv, Israel, August 25-September 3, 1999. Part II. Basel: Birkhäuser, 560--673 (2000; Zbl 0989.81114)] tells that these algebraic invariants are homological and so rely on a differential. The \(J\)-holomorphic curves considered in this paper arise as branched covers of cylinders \(\mathbb{R}\times \gamma,\) where \(\gamma\) is a closed orbit of the Reeb vector field on \(V\). The author summarizes the main theorem of this paper as: ``branched covers over trivial orbit cylinders do not contribute to the differential of rational symplectic field theory.''