4. Given that $a, b, c, d$ are all real numbers, and $a+b+c+d=4, a^{2}+b^{2}+c^{2}$ $+d^{2}=\frac{16}{3}$. Then the maximum value of $a$ is $\qquad$ .
4. 2 .

Construct the function
$$
y=3 x^{2}-2(b+c+d) x+\left(b^{2}+c^{2}+d^{2}\right) \text {. }
$$

Since $y(x-b)^{2}+(x-c)^{2}+(x-d)^{2} \geqslant 0$, and the graph
is a parabola opening upwards, we have
$$
\Delta=4(b+c+d)^{2}-12\left(b^{2}+c^{2}+d^{2}\right) \leqslant 0,
$$

which simplifies to $(4-a)^{2}-3\left(\frac{16}{3}-a^{2}\right) \leqslant 0$.
Solving this, we get $0 \leqslant a \leqslant 2$. Therefore, the maximum value of $a$ is 2.