Splitting of Jacobi equation and decomposition of index form (Q1194644)

Let \(M\) be a complete smooth Riemannian manifold and \(G\) be a compact connected Lie group whose elements are isometries of \(M\). Let \(c:[0,a]\to M\) be a geodesic such that \(c(0)=z\in G(x)\) and \(\dot c(0)\in N_ z G(x)\), where \(N_ z(x)\) is the normal space of the principal orbit \(G(x)\) at \(z\). Using a \(G(x)\)-Jacobi field defined along \(c\), the author proves comparison theorems. Some results are derived in the case when the Jacobi equation splits along the geodesics. It is shown that if the point \(y\) is a closest cut point of \(G\)(x), which is not a focal point of \(G(x)\), then two different minimizing geodesics meet at an angle of measure \(\pi\) at \(y\).