$\mathbb{A}^1$-connected components and characterisation of $\mathbb{A}^2$

Abstract: In this article we prove that any $\mathbb{A}^1$-contractible smooth complex surface is isomorphic as a variety to $\mathbb{C}^2$. We show that the $\mathbb{A}^1$-connected component of a variety $X$ contains the information about $\mathbb{A}^1$'s in $X$.