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Let $(M,\omega)$ be a manifold endowed with symplectic form. Then the product manifold $M\times M$ with symplectic form $\omega\times -\omega$ is symplectic, and the diagonal submanifold $\Delta\equiv\{(x,x)|x\in M\}$ is Lagrangian. Does the product manifold in fact admit a Lagrangian fibration over $\Delta$?

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2 Answers 2

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No (independent of the full meaning of the question) in general it does not.

Any manifold which admits a Lagrangian fibration to a half dimensional base, also admits a Lagrangian foliation, and hence admits a global continuous choice of Lagrangian at each point.

If this were the case then it means that the classifying map of the tangent bundle (with an almost complex structure) is defined as the tensor product of $\mathbb{C}$ with a real vector bundle.

More, precisely; the classifying map of the tangent bundle of $M$ is a map $M \to BO(2n)$, this is lifted (canonically up to homotopy) to a map $M\to BU(n)$ by choosing an almost complex structure, and having a Lagrangian fibration implies that this lifts to $BO(n)\to BU(n)$. Since the composed map $BO(n) \to BO(2n)$ is simply direct sum with itself (or multiplication with 2) we can say something about the Stiefel-Whitney classes of the image.

This leads to the following counter example: $M=\mathbb{C} P^2$. Indeed, $M$ is not spinable because its second Stiefel-Whitney class is non-zero. Hence so is true for $M\times M$, now we see that $T(M\times M)$ is never 2 times a real half dimensional vector bundle. Indeed, to get the non-zero second Stiefel-Whitney class you need a non-zero first Stiefel Whitney class on the bundle that you double, and this can't happen since $M\times M$ is simply connected.

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I suppose what you mean is a fibration $M\times M\rightarrow B$ such that $\Delta $ is a fiber. This implies that the normal bundle of $\Delta $ in $M\times M$ is trivial, that is, that the tangent bundle of $M$ is trivial, so it does not hold in general.

Of course if you take $M=\mathbb{R}^n$ or $M=(\mathbb{S}^1)^n$ ($n$ even), the answer is yes, with the fibration $M\times M\rightarrow M$ given by $(x,y)\mapsto x-y$.

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  • $\begingroup$ There is a good chance that he meant what he wrote, and he is refering to the fact that locally around $\Delta$ there is such a fibration. Indeed, a small neighborhood of zero in $T^*\Delta$ embeds symplectically, and he is asking if this extends, which it generally does not. $\endgroup$ Commented Mar 4, 2014 at 7:38
  • $\begingroup$ Could be. But in that case, what is the point of having $\Delta$ Lagrangian? $\endgroup$
    – abx
    Commented Mar 4, 2014 at 7:48
  • $\begingroup$ To have the symplectic embedding of $T^*\Delta$ $\endgroup$ Commented Mar 4, 2014 at 7:57

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