The Morse Index Theorem in the Degenerate Endmanifold Case (Q5288081)

Let \(M\) be a Riemannian manifold with submanifolds \(P\) and \(Q\). Let \(\Omega(M;P,Q)\) be the space of continuous piecewise \(C^ \infty\) paths \(\gamma:[0,T] \to M\) joining \(\gamma(0) \in P\) and \(\gamma(T) \in Q\). A path \(\gamma\) is a critical point for the energy functional when \(\gamma\) is a geodesic intersecting \(P\) and \(Q\) orthogonally at \(\gamma(0)\) and \(\gamma(T)\) respectively. The Hessian of this functional at the critical point defines a symmetric bilinear map on the tangent to \(\Omega(M;P,Q)\) at the critical point \(\gamma\). The index of this Hessian is called the Morse index. When the submanifold \(Q\) is reduced to a point, then the Morse index theorem relates the Morse index with the number of points along \(\gamma\) that are conjugate to \(\gamma(0)\). In Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 308, No. 1, 341-348 (1988; Zbl 0652.58016) the second author computes the Morse index provided the endpoint \(\gamma(T)\) was not a focal point for the first submanifold \(P\). The expression of the Morse index for this case involves a new term related with the second fundamental form of \(Q\). In the underlying paper the authors study the Morse index theorem for two endmanifolds when each submanifold lies at a focal point of the other, so, extending the previous case. Again, a new term appears. This new term is called the \(Q\)-multiplicity of the \(P\)-focal point \(\gamma(T)\) and it is a generalization of the same concept when \(Q\) is a hypersurface. The result is the following: the Morse index is the sum of the multiplicities of the \(P\)-focal points along \(\gamma\), the \(Q\)- multiplicity of \(\Gamma(T)\), and the index of a symmetric bilinear form defined by means of the second fundamental form of \(Q\) at \(\gamma(T)\).