Exactness of the Novikov inequalities (Q1082679)

In his investigation of periodic solutions of certain classical problems of mechanics, \textit{S. P. Novikov} constructed and applied an analogue of Morse theory, in which, instead of functionals appear multivalued functionals, given by a closed 1-form [Usp. Mat. Nauk 37, No.5(227), 3-49 (1982; Zbl 0571.58011)]. The following problem serves as a finite- dimensional topological model of Novikov's considerations: what is the minimal number of critical points that a Morse map f of a finite- dimensional smooth manifold M into the circle \(S^ 1\), which realize a given cohomology class \(\xi \in H^ 1(M,{\mathfrak Z})\), may have ? In the case where M is simply connected, dim \(M\geq 5\), for ordinary Morse functions \(f: M\to {\mathfrak R}\) this problem was answered by \textit{S. Smale} [Am. J. Math. 84, 387-399 (1962; Zbl 0109.411)]. In the general case, Novikov derived inequalities that estimate from below the number of critical points. The following is the main result: Theorem. Let \(M^ n\) be a smooth connected closed manifold of dimension \(n\geq 6\), with \(\pi_ 1(M^ n)={\mathfrak Z}\), and let \(\xi \in H^ 1(M,{\mathfrak Z})\), \(\xi\neq 0\). Then there exists a Morse map \(f: M\to S^ 1\), realizing \(\xi\), such that \[ c_ i(f)=b_ i(M,\xi)+q_ i(M,\xi)+q_{i-1}(M,\xi), \] for all \(i\geq 0\), where \(c_ i(f)\) denotes the number of critical points of index i of the Morse map f. Some applications were announced by the author [Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 279, 43-46 (1984; Zbl 0592.57014)].