The Palais-Smale condition on contact type energy levels for convex Lagrangian systems (Q2509087)

Let \(M\) be a closed Riemannian manifold and \(L:TM\to{\mathbb R}\) a convex superlinear autonomous Lagrangian. For \(k\in{\mathbb R}\) let \[ {\mathcal{A}}_k(x,T):=\int^1_0[L(x(s), \dot{x}(s)/T)+k]T \,ds \] denote the free time action functional. It is defined for \(H^1\)-functions \(x:[0,1]\to M\) and \(T\in{\mathbb R}\). Two cases are considered: either \(x\) connects two points \(q_0=x(0)\), \(q_1=x(1)\), i.e., \(x\in\Omega_M(q_0, q_1)\), or \(x\) is periodic, \(x\in\Lambda_M\). If \((x,T)\) is a critical point of \({\mathcal{A}}_k\) restricted to \(\Omega_M(q_0, q_1)\) or to \(\Lambda_M\), then \(y:[0,T]\to M\), \(y(t):=x(t/T)\), is a solution of the Euler-Lagrange equation \({{d}\over{dt}} L_v(y, \dot{y})=L_x(y,\dot{y})\) on the energy level \(E(y,\dot{y})\equiv k\). The paper contains several results concerning the Palais-Smale condition for \({\mathcal{A}}_k\). It is also proved that \({\mathcal{A}}_k\) has mountain pass geometry for \(k\) in a certain energy range below Mañé's critical value \(c_n(L)\) of the lift of the Lagrangian to the universal cover. Using an argument due to Struwe, it is shown that almost all energy levels below \(c_n(L)\) have conjugate points. This work is a continuation of an earlier paper of the author, \textit{R. Iturríaga, G. P. Paternain} and \textit{M. Paternain} [Ann. Henri Poincaré 1, 655--684 (2000; Zbl 0986.58005)].