Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 iii Paper 146 2 ii Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Let with an area form and let be an equator dividing the sphere into two open hemispheres of equal area. Every curve in a symplectic surface is Lagrangian. A small normal push moves to a nearby latitude, so it is displaceable by a smooth isotopy.
Suppose a symplectic isotopy had final image disjoint from . The curve must lie in one hemisphere. Of the two discs bounded by , the one contained in that hemisphere has area strictly below half the total area, and the other has area strictly above half. On the other hand, a symplectomorphism maps the original two hemispheres to the two discs bounded by and preserves their areas, so both would have half the total area. This contradiction is the symplectic non-displaceability of an area bisector.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 iii Paper 146 2 i Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Take . For any Lagrangian embedding of into a symplectic four-manifold, the symplectic form identifies the normal bundle with . The self-intersection formula and the Euler characteristic giveup to the harmless orientation sign. If a smooth isotopy displaced , its final image would represent the same homology class but have intersection number zero with , a contradiction. This is the smooth non-displaceability from self-intersection.
For a compact ambient example, equip with . Its diagonalis Lagrangian because the two summands cancel on , and the preceding argument shows that it is not smoothly displaceable.