The three-dimensional symplectization question for overtwisted contact structures

Abstract

We consider closed connected oriented three-manifolds equipped with positive cooriented contact structures. We prove that a symplectomorphism between their symplectizations forces the existence of an orientation-preserving diffeomorphism between the underlying three-manifolds under which the two contact structures are homotopic as oriented plane fields. Combining this formal rigidity with the classification of overtwisted contact structures, we show that two closed overtwisted contact three-manifolds have symplectomorphic symplectizations if and only if they are contactomorphic. Thus, we resolve the three-dimensional symplectization question when both contact structures are overtwisted.

25 pages