Lusternik-Schnirelman method for functionals invariant with respect to a finite group action (Q916170)

Let \(M\) be a paracompact complete Banach \(C^k\)-manifold \((k\geq 2)\) endowed with an action by diffeomorphisms of a finite group \(G\) (not necessarily free) and let \(f: M\to R\) be a \(G\)-invariant bounded from below \(C^1\)-functional satisfying the Palais-Smale condition. If there is a \(G\)-invariant set \(S\subset M\setminus M^G\), \(G\)-homeomorphic to a finite-dimensional sphere such that, for some real \(r\), \(f(s)<r<f(x)\) where \(s\in S\), \(x\in M^G\), then there are given the general and explicit formulae of lower estimates \(\nu_0(S,M)\) for the number of distinct critical orbits and \(\nu(S,M)\) for the number of critical points of \(f\) in the set \(\{x\in M: f(x)\leq r\}\) which depend only on the equivariant topological structure of \(S\) and the properties of isotropy groups \(G_x\), \(x\in M\setminus M^G\). It is shown that the theorem together with some corollaries generalize some other well-known results in this direction. The theorem is applied to an estimation of the number of solutions to the following variational problem \[ -\Delta u+\nabla \phi (u)=0,\quad u\vert_{ \partial \Omega} =0,\quad u\in C^2(\bar \Omega,R^k) \] where \(\phi: \Omega\to R^k\) is a \(C^2\)-function \(G\)-invariant with respect to an orthogonal representation of a finite group \(G\) in \(R^k\). Next, the theorem is applied to the study of the number of solutions to a certain bifurcation problem. The proofs are based on the minimax techniques combined with the Lusternik-Schnirelman category theory. These methods are also applied to the study of the problem of partial breaking of symmetries.