Regular level sets of averages of Nemyteskiǐ operators are contractible (Q5961817)

Let \(M\) be a compact manifold with a smooth Riemannian metric which induces a measure \(\mu\) such that \(\mu(M)=1\). Let \(C^\infty(M)\) be the Fréchet ring of smooth real-valued function on \(M\) and define \(V\) to be a separable Banach space continuity included in \(C^0(M)\) which is also a topological \(C^\infty(M)\)-module. Define for any continuous \(f_n: M\times\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}^n\) the map \(F_n: V\to\mathbb{R}^n\) as the average of the associated Nemytskij operator, \(F_n(v)= \int_M f_n(m,v(m))d\mu\). Assure that \(f_n\) has continuous partial derivatives of any order with respect to the second variable. Let \(\pi_k: \mathbb{R}^n\to\mathbb{R}^k\) be the projection onto the first \(k\) coordinates. Suppose that \(0\) is a strong regular value of \(F_n\), i.e., \(0\) is a regular value of \(F_k=\pi_k\circ F_n\) for every \(k\in\{1,\dots,n\}\). Then the levels \(Z_k= F^{-1}_k(0)\) are nested closed manifolds of codimension \(k\) in \(V\). The main result of this paper is a proof that the manifolds \(Z_k\) are contractible and that there is a global homeomorphism \(\Psi\) of \(V\) which sends every \(Z_k\) to a closed linear subspace of codimension \(k\). If \(V\) is a Hilbert space then \(\Psi\) can be made into a diffeomorphism.