No homotopy 4–sphere invariants using ECH=SWF

Abstract

In relation to the 4-dimensional smooth Poincar\'e conjecture we construct a tentative invariant of homotopy 4-spheres using embedded contact homology (ECH) and Seiberg-Witten theory (SWF). But for good reason it is a constant value independent of the sphere, so this null-result demonstrates that one should not try to use the usual theories of ECH and SWF. On the other hand, a corollary is that there always exist pseudoholomorphic curves satisfying certain constraints in (punctured) 4-spheres.