Holomorphic curves in Stein domains and the tau-invariant

Abstract

The scope of the paper is threefold. First, we build on recent work by Hayden to compute Hedden's tau-invariant $\tau_{\xi}(L)$ in the case when $\xi$ is a Stein fillable contact structure on a rational homology sphere, and $L$ is a transverse link arising as the boundary of a pseudo-holomorphic curve. This leads to a new proof of the relative Thom conjecture for Stein domains. Secondly, we compare the invariant $\tau_\xi$ to the Grigsby-Ruberman-Strle topological tau-invariant $\tau_{\mathfrak s}$, associated to the $\text{Spin}^c$-structure $\mathfrak s=\mathfrak s_\xi$ of the contact structure $\xi$, to obtain topological obstructions for a link type to admit a holomorphically fillable transverse representative. Finally, we use our main result together with methods from lattice cohomology to compute the $\tau_{\mathfrak s}$-invariants of certain links in lens spaces, and estimate their PL slice genus.