Approximation of recurrence in negatively curved metric spaces (Q1587572): Difference between revisions

Recall that a geodesic \(\gamma\) in a metric space \((X,d)\) is called \textit{recurrent} if for some sequence \(t_n\to\infty\) it holds \(t_n\gamma\to\gamma\), where \((t,\gamma)\to t\gamma\) denotes the geodesic flow sending \(\gamma(s)\) to \(\gamma(s+t)\). Previously, \textit{B. Aebischer}, \textit{S. Hong} and \textit{D. McCullough} [Duke Math. J. 75, 759-774 (1994; Zbl 0810.30034)] proved that a geodesic in a complete hyperbolic manifold is recurrent if and only if it is approximated by closed geodesics. In the paper under review the authors show that any recurrent geodesic in a metric space \((X,d)\) with curvature bounded from above by some negative constant is approximated by closed geodesics. They also provide an example where the converse is not true due to the possible bifurcation of geodesics in the case when \(X\) is not a manifold.