Existence of closed characteristics on compact convex hypersurfaces in \(\mathbf{R}^{2n}\) (Q262238)

The paper concerns the existence and multiplicity of closed characteristics on compact convex hypersurfaces in \(\mathbb R^{2n}\). The main attention is paid to the long standing conjecture which claims that the number of geometrically distinct closed characteristics on an arbitrary compact convex hypersurface in \(\mathbb R^{2n}\) is greater than or equal to \(n\), see [\textit{Y. Long} and \textit{C. Zhu}, Ann. Math. (2) 155, No. 2, 317--368 (2002; Zbl 1028.53003)], [\textit{W. Wang} et al., Duke Math. J. 139, No. 3, 411--462 (2007; Zbl 1139.58007)], [\textit{H. Hofer} et al., Ann. Math. (2) 148, No. 1, 197--289 (1998; Zbl 0944.37031)]. The main result of the paper is the following. Theorem 1. There exist at least \(\left[\frac{n+1}{2}\right]+1\) geometrically distinct closed characteristics on every compact convex hypersurface in \(\mathbb R^{2n}\), \(n\geq 2\). Concerning related stability results on the ellipticity or hyperbolicity of characteristics, the following statement is proved, which generalizes previous results by Y. Long and C. Zhu (see also [\textit{I. Ekeland}, Proc. Symp. Pure Math. 45, 395--423 (1986; Zbl 0596.34023)], [\textit{Y. Long}, J. Differ. Equations 150, No. 2, 227--249, Art. No. DE983486 (1998; Zbl 0915.58032)]). Theorem 2. There exist at least \(\left[\frac{n}{2}\right]+1\) geometrically distinct non-hyperbolic closed characteristics on every compact convex hypersurface \(\Sigma\) in \(\mathbb R^{2n}\), \(n\geq 2\), provided that the number of geometrically distinct closed characteristics on \(\Sigma\) is finite.