On the existence and non-existence of closed trajectories for some Hamiltonian flows (Q5961413): Difference between revisions

We study closed trajectories of a Hamiltonian vector field on \(T^*M\) whose Hamiltonian is just a metric \(H: T^* M \to \mathbb{R}\), but \(T^*M\) is given a twisted symplectic structure, i.e., the sum of the standard one and the pull-back of a closed 2-form \(\sigma\) on \(M\). Such a system describes the motion of a charge on \(M\) in a magnetic field \(\sigma\). We show that if a magnetic field is sufficiently strong and \(\dim M=2\) then the number of closed trajectories on a prescribed energy level is no less than the number of critical points of a function on \(M\). In particular, there always are that many closed trajectories on low energy levels when \(\sigma \neq 0\) anywhere on \(M\). (In fact, our main result concerns the existence of closed characteristics of certain 2-forms on higher dimensional manifolds.) This result is sharp in the sense that it cannot be extended to all energy levels. We give an example where there is an energy level without closed trajectories. (Obtaining, by the way, an exact 2-form without closed characteristics on a compact 3-manifold.) We also discuss in great detail and prove in some particular cases the existence of closed trajectories on high energy levels (e.g., for a generic metric).