Comparison of finite-dimensional reductions in smooth variational problems with symmetries (Q2487422)

Let \(G\) be a finite-dimensional compact Lie group which is assumed to act orthogonally through \(T\) on \(H\). Assume that \(V\) is a functional invariant under this action such that there exists a family of equivariant finite-dimensional reductions \(p_t\), \(t\in [0,1]\), defining the key functions \(W_t:\mathbb R^m\rightarrow \mathbb R\). The main result of the paper establishes that for all \(s\), \(t\in [0,1]\), there exists an equivariant diffeomorphism \(\psi_s^t:\mathbb R^m\rightarrow\mathbb R^m\) such that \(W_s(\xi)=W_t(\psi_s^t(\xi))\). This result is a symmetric version of the classical comparison theorem and points out the global equivalence of the Lyapunov-Schmidt and Morse-Bott key functions for the potential of a natural mechanical system with symmetries.