Gromov compactness for holomorphic discs with totally real boundary conditions (Q889912)

Let \((M, \omega)\) be a symplectic manifold of dimension \(2n\), \(J\) an almost complex structure on \(M\) tamed by \(\omega\), and \(L\) a totally real submanifold of \(M\). A holomorphic disc is a map \(u : (D, \partial D) \to (M, L)\), where \(D \subset C\) is a closed unit disc on the complex plane, such that \(u_x + J(u)u_y = 0\). The study of holomorphic discs is motivated by the fact that, as the authors write, ``the study of Lagrangian submanifolds in symplectic topology uses holomorphic discs in an essential way''. A sequence \(u^k\) of holomorphic discs is said to be bounded if there exists a compact subset in \(M\) that contains \(u^k(\partial D)\) for all \(k\). The sequence has bounded energy if \(\sup_{k} \int_D u^*\omega < \infty\). The main result of the paper is the following: Theorem. Any bounded sequence of holomorphic discs with bounded energy has a subsequence which Gromov converges to a stable holomorphic map of genus zero with connected boundary. The relative homotopy class is preserved under Gromov convergence. The paper provides all necessary definitions with explanations and references, in particular the definitions of stable holomorphic maps and of the Gromov convergence. Also some generalizations of the main theorem are given.