The exponential map of a weak Riemannian Hilbert manifold (Q1766834)

A Hilbert manifold \(M\) is a manifold modeled on an infinite dimensional Hilbert space \(H\). The topology \(\tau\) given by this atlas, due to the Hilbert structure, can be induced by a scalar product, and provides to the tangent space of the structure of a topological vector space. A \textit{weak} Riemannian metric on \(M\) is a smooth asignment to each point \(p\) in \(M\), of a continuous, positive definite and symmetric bilinear form defined on \(T_pM\). A priori, the existence of a Levi-Civita connection associated with this weak metric is not guaranteed. In the paper, it is assumed the existence of the Levi-Civita connection on a Hilbert manifold endowed with a Riemannian metric with continuous curvature tensor with respect the topology \(\tau\) above described. In this setting, it is presented a description of the distribution of singular points of the exponential map along a geodesic of finite length, and it is defined a Focal Index Form of the vector fields along these geodesics, which is expressed in terms of the second variation of its energy integral. With all this in hand, it is stated and proved a Focal Index Lemma (the Jacobi fields ``minimize'' the Index Form), which generalizes the Index Lemma in the finite dimensional case, and, as a corollary, is obtained the Rauch-Berger Comparison Theorem, about the length of Jacobi fields depending on sectional curvatures.