A Morse complex for Lorentzian geodesics (Q1002437): Difference between revisions

Let \((M,h)\) be a Lorentzian manifold of finite dimension. If \(\gamma\) is a curve in \(M\), the energy functional is defined according to \(E(\gamma)=\frac12 \int_0^1 h(\gamma',\gamma')\). A geodesic is a critical point of \(E\), and unlike the Riemannian case, all critical points of \(E\) have infinite Morse index \(i(\gamma)\), so \(i\) is not a suitable invariant to classify all geodesics joining given endpoints. However, a finite relative index can be defined for geodesics in \(M\), and this index is known to be equal to the Maslov index of \(\gamma\). The authors, using the Morse complex approach, prove Morse relations which involve the relative index, analogous to the Morse relations of Riemannian geometry [see for instance \textit{R. S. Palais}, Topology 2, 299--340 (1963; Zbl 0122.10702)], for the set of all geodesics connecting two non-conjugate points in \(M\).