Variationally complete actions on nonnegatively curved manifolds (Q2382966)

Let \(M\) be a complete Riemannian manifold with nonnegative sectional curvature. The authors prove: Theorem B. A singular Riemannian foliation in \(M\), without horizontal conjugate points, admits flat sections. The idea of the proof coincides with that used to prove the following well known result: if \(M\) is without conjugate points, then \(M\) is flat. The tools considered in this paper are contained in [\textit{B. Wilking}, Geom. Funct. Anal. 17, No. 4, 1297--1320 (2007; Zbl 1139.53014), arXiv: math.DG/0606190]. A direct consequence of Theorem B is: Theorem A. A variationally complete action on \(M\) is hyperpolar. Variationally complete actions were introduced by \textit{R. Bott} [Bull. Soc. Math. Fr. 84, 251--281 (1956; Zbl 0073.40001)] and studied by \textit{R. Bott} and \textit{H. Samelson} [Am. J. Math. 80, 964--1029 (1958); Correction. ibid. 83, 207--208 (1961; Zbl 0101.39702)]. The authors define the notion of ``singular Riemannian foliation'' in terms of \textit{P. Molino}'s book ``Riemannian foliations.'' Progress in Mathematics, Vol. 73. Boston-Basel: Birkhäuser (1988; Zbl 0633.53001) and generalize in this context the property of an action to be variationally complete.