Topological contact dynamics I: symplectization and applications of the energy-capacity inequality (Q2515410)

There are two fundamental theorems in the study of Hamiltonian/symplectic diffeomorphism groups, namely, the existence of a non-degenerate bi-invariant metric for Hamiltonian diffeomorphisms and the \(C^0\) rigidity for symplectomorphisms. In the paper under review, the authors carry out the foundational study of existence of a non-degenerate bi-invariant metric for strictly contact diffeomorphisms as well as the \(C^0\)-rigidity for contact diffeomorphisms. To bridge between the symplectic world and the contact world, the authors perform the study in the symplectization of a contact manifold. Illustrative examples are given in Section 8 which highlight the fact that the situation in the contact setting is more intrigued than the symplectic analog. The paper ends with a preview of interesting results in a forthcoming papers by the authors.