Relative homological linking in critical point theory (Q933128)

The author introduces the notion of relative homological linking: given pairs \((B,A)\) and \((Q,P)\) (all subspaces of a topological space \(X\)) then \((B,A)\) homologically links \((Q,P)\) in \(X\) if \((B,A)\subset(X\setminus P,X\setminus Q) \) the inclusion inducing a nontrivial homomorphism in reduced homology. \((B,A)\) \((n,m)\)-links \((Q,P)\) in \(X\) where \(n,\,m\) are nonnegative integers, if the above homomorphism at the \(n\)-th level has rank \(m\). Examples are given that include the usual ``linking'' setting in several critical point theorems, and applications to finding critical points follow. The setting is as usual: the background is a Hilbert space \(H\) and \(f\in C^2(H)\) is given. Under the assumptions that \(f\) satisfies the (PS)-condition and the set of critical points is discrete, critical point theory is recovered: linking yields critical points and information on critical values and on the critical groups. The results include the saddle point theorems and the local linking theorem. Related material may be consulted in papers by \textit{E. A. B. Silva} [Nonlinear Anal., Theory Methods Appl. 16, No. 5, 455--477 (1991; Zbl 0731.35042)], \textit{A. C. Lazer} and \textit{S. Solimini} [Nonlinear Anal., Theory Methods Appl. 10, 411--413 (1986; Zbl 0619.58011)], \textit{S. Solimini} [Manuscr. Math. 63, No. 4, 421--453 (1989; Zbl 0685.58010)] and the monograph by \textit{M. P. N. Ramos} [Linking theorems in critical point theory. Textos de Matemática. 2. Lisboa: Universidade de Lisboa (1993; Zbl 0964.58011)].