The Maslov index in weak symplectic functional analysis (Q376349)

This paper is devoted to an interpretation of the concept of \textit{Maslov index} in functional analysis. The algebraic definition of Maslov index is a canonical \(W(\mathbb{K})\)-valued mapping on \(n\)-tuples of Lagrangian subspaces of a symplectic \(\mathbb{K}\)-vector space \((V,\omega)\), where \(\mathbb{K}\) is a field with characteristic \(\not=2\) and \(W(\mathbb{K})\) is the \textit{Witt group} of \(\mathbb{K}\). In the case where \(\mathbb{K}=\mathbb{R}\), one has \(W(\mathbb{K})=\mathbb{Z}\), and with \(\mathbb{K}=\mathbb{C}\), one has \(W(\mathbb{K})=\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}\). This function is a topological invariant, related by means of Lagrangian correspondences to the concept of cobordism between suitable cell complexes. More precisely let \(\mathrm{Lagr}(V,\omega)=\{L<V\, |\, L=L^\bot\}\) denote the set of Lagrangian subspaces of \((V,\omega)\), where \(E^\bot=\{v\in V\, |\, \omega(v,u)=0,\, \forall u\in E\}\). Let \(\mathcal{Q}_+\) denote the category whose objects are \textit{quadratic spaces}, namely vector spaces with non-degenerate, symmetric bilinear forms. Set \(W(\mathbb{K})=\pi_0(\mathcal{Q}_+)\). We say that two quadratic spaces \(V_1,\, V_2\in Ob(\mathcal{Q}_+)\), are \textit{Witt-equivalent} if there exists a Lagrangian correspondence between them, more precisely a morphism \(f\in \mathrm{Hom}_{\mathcal{Q}_+}(V_1,V_2):=\mathrm{Lagr}(V_1^o\oplus V_2)\), called the \textit{space of Lagrangian correspondences}. Here \((V,q)^o:=(V,-q)\), with \(q\) the quadratic structure. Composition of morphisms is meant in the sense of composition of general correspondences. For example if \(f:V_1\to V_2\) is an isometry then the graph \(\Gamma_f\subset V_1^o\oplus V_2\) is Lagrangian. Then, \(W(\mathbb{K})\) is the group whose elements are Witt equivalence-classes of quadratic spaces, with addition induced by direct sum (The inverse of \((V,q)\) is \(-(V,q)=(V,q)^o\).) Given a \(n\)-tuple \(L=(L_1,\dots,L_n)\) of Lagrangian subspaces of \((V,\omega)\), we have a cochain complex \(C_L\mathop{\to} \limits^{\partial}\bigoplus_iL_i\mathop{\to}\limits^{\Sigma} V\), where \(C_L=\bigoplus(L_i\cap L_{i+1})\), \(\Sigma\) is the sum of the components, and \(\partial(a)=(a,-a)\in L_i\oplus L_{i+1}\), \(\forall a\in L_i\cap L_{i+1}\). Then we get a quadratic space \((T_L,q_L)\), with \(T_L=\ker\sum/\text{im }\partial\) and \(q_L(a,b)=\sum_{i>j}\omega(a_i,b_j)\), (\textit{Maslov form}), where \(a,\, b\in T_L\) are lifted to the representative \((a_i),\, (b_i)\in \bigoplus_{i} L_i\). Then the \textit{Maslov index is} \(\tau(L)=\tau(L_1,\dots,L_n)=(T_L,q_L)\in W(\mathbb{K})\). One has the following properties: (a) \textit{Isometries}: \[ T(L_1,\dots,L_n)=T(L_n,L_1,\dots,L_{n-1})=T(L_1,\dots,L_1)^o. \] (b) \textit{Lagrangian correspondences}: \[ T(L_1,\dots,L_n)\oplus T(L_1,L_k,\dots,L_{n})\to T(L_1,\dots,L_n),\;k<n. \] By considering the cell complex \(C_L=C(L_1,\dots,L_n)\), as \(n\)-gon, with the face labelled by \(V\), edges labelled by \(L_i\) and vertices labelled by \(L_i\cap L_{i+1}\), property (b) allows us to reduce to the case of three Lagrangian subspaces. Furthermore, Lagrangian correspondences induce cobordism properties. For example \(C(L_1,L_2,L_3,L_4)\) cobords with \(C(L_1,L_2,L_3)\cup C(L_1,L_3,L_4)\). (c) \textit{Cocycle property}: \[ \tau(L_1,L_2,L_3)-\tau(L_1,L_2,L_4)+\tau(L_1,L_3,L_4)-\tau(L_2,L_3,L_4)=0. \] Furthermore the Maslov index allows to identify a central extension \(\mathrm{Mp}(V)\) of the group \(\mathrm{Sp}(V)\) that when \(\mathbb{K}=\mathbb{R}\) is the unique double cover of \(\mathrm{Sp}(V)\), namely the \textit{metaplectic group}. The authors carefully study the Maslov index for weak symplectic Banach spaces in the sense of \textit{P. R. Chernoff} and \textit{J. E. Marsden} [Properties of infinite dimensional Hamiltonian systems. York: Springer-Verlag (1974; Zbl 0301.58016)]. More precisely, they extend in this framework the definition of Maslov index of a continuous path of Fredholm pairs of Lagrangian subspaces. After a detailed introduction, the paper splits in two more sections and one appendix. 2. Weak symplectic functional analysis. (2.1 Basic symplectic functional analysis; 2.2 Fredholm pairs of Lagrangian subspaces; 2.3 Open topological problems.) 3. Maslov index in weak symplectic analysis. (3.1 Definition and properties of the Maslov index; 3.2 Comparison with real (and strong) category; 3.3 Invariance of the Maslov index under embedding.) Appendix: Spectral flow. (A.1 Gap between subspaces; A.2 Closed linear relations; A.3 Spectral flow for closed linear relations.) The main result is a rigorous definition of the Maslov index for continuous curves of Fredholm pairs of Lagrangian subspaces in a fixed Banach space with varying weak symplectic structures and continuously varying symplectic splittings. Part of their results are formulated and proved for relations instead of operators to admit wider application. The strategy adopted by the authors follows Floer's suggestion to express the spectral flow of a curve of self-adjoint operators by the Maslov index of corresponding curves of Lagrangian subspaces [\textit{A. Floer}, Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 41, No. 4, 393--407 (1988; Zbl 0633.58009)]. Notice that this idea stimulated interesting results relating Maslov index and spectral flow, see, e.g., [\textit{T. Yoshida}, Ann. Math. (2) 134, No. 2, 277--323 (1991; Zbl 0748.57002); \textit{L. I. Nicolaescu}, Duke Math. J. 80, No. 2, 485--533 (1995; Zbl 0849.58064); \textit{S. E. Cappell} et al., Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 49, No. 9, 869--909 (1996; Zbl 0871.58081)]. Reviewer's remark: It is worth to emphasize that the definition of Maslov index can be recast in the framework of the PDE's geometry. In fact the \textit{metasymplectic structure} of the Cartan distribution of \(k\)-jet-spaces \(J^k_n(W)\) over a fiber bundle \(\pi:W\to M\), \(\dim W=n+m\), \(\dim M=n\), allows us to recognize a Maslov index associated to maximal isotropic subspaces of the Cartan distribution of \(J^k_n(W)\), and by restriction on any PDE \(E_k\subset J^k_n(W)\). For details on the metasymplectic structure of the Cartan distribution and its relations with (singular) solutions of PDEs, see the following work by the reviewer: [\textit{A. Prástaro}, Acta Appl. Math. 59, No. 2, 111--201 (1999; Zbl 0949.35011)].