Symplectic topology as the geometry of generating functions (Q811528)

We introduce a very simple approach to symplectic topology, using the notion of generating functions quadratic at infinity of Lagrange submanifolds in a cotangent bundle. We first prove that such a generating function is essentially unique. Then, certain critical values of the generating function yields invariants of the Lagrange submanifold. We prove a certain number of properties of these invariants under deformation and ''composition''. If our Lagrange submanifold is the graph of a compact supported symplectic map \(\psi\) of \(\mathbb{R}^{2n}\) we get two numbers \(c_ +(\psi)\) and \(c_ -(\psi)\). We prove many properties of these invariants, \(C^ 0\) continuity, continuity with respect to a generating Hamiltonian etc.\dots. These invariants are used to get estimates on the number of periodic orbits and to define symplectic invariants for sets. The symplectic invariants thus defined satisfy the axioms of capacities. They also behave very nicely with respect to symplectic reduction, thus allowing us to give simple proofs of the ''camel problem'', and study properties of ''simple hypersurfaces''.