Symplectic rational blowdowns
arXiv:math/9802079
Abstract
We prove that the rational blowdown, a surgery on smooth 4-manifolds introduced by Fintushel and Stern, can be performed in the symplectic category. As a consequence, interesting families of smooth 4-manifolds, including the exotic surfaces of Gompf and Mrowka, admit symplectic structures.
12 pages; 4 figures; Latex2e document