Variational construction of connecting orbits (Q1337587)

In the context of certain periodic Lagrangian systems, we find sufficient conditions for the existence of an orbit connecting two action minimizing sets. We also find sufficient conditions for the existence of an orbit which visits (to within \(\varepsilon\)) each of a sequence of action minimizing sets, in turn. These results generalize to \(n\) degrees of freedom results previously obtained in 1 degree of freedom (area preserving mappings) [the author, J. Am. Math. Soc. 4, No. 2, 207-263 (1991; Zbl 0737.58029)].