On eigenvalues on the orbit space (Q5931466)

A map \(P\) equivariant with respect to a compact Lie group induces a map \(Q\) on the orbit space, which is differentiable provided that \(P\) is sufficiently smooth. An equilibrium of \(Q\) corresponds to an invariant orbit of \(P\). The author analyzes the relations between the eigenvalues of the linearization of \(Q\) at the equilibrium and those of a kind of linearization of \(P\) at the invariant orbit. It turns out that the former are products of the latter. Moreover, the eigenvalues on the orbit space suffice to determine asymptotic stability of the invariant orbit. To this purpose one has to distinguish between the directions relevant to \(P\) and the ones that are not. A criterion for the relevance of the eigenvalues of \(P\) is given. The author also discusses how to generalize the results to the case of reductive groups.