Morse theory, closed geodesics, and the homology of free loop spaces

zbMATH Open1377.53001arXiv1406.3107MaRDI QIDQ5283728FDOQ5283728

Authors: Alexandru Oancea 

Publication date: 24 July 2017

Abstract: This is a survey paper on Morse theory and the existence problem for closed geodesics. The free loop space plays a central role, since closed geodesics are critical points of the energy functional. As such, they can be analyzed through variational methods. The topics that we discuss include: Riemannian background, the Lyusternik-Fet theorem, the Lyusternik-Schnirelmann principle of subordinated classes, the Gromoll-Meyer theorem, Bott's iteration of the index formulas, homological computations using Morse theory, $SO(2)$- vs. $O(2)$-symmetries, Katok's examples and Finsler metrics, relations to symplectic geometry, and a guide to the literature. The Appendix written by Umberto Hryniewicz gives an account of the problem of the existence of infinitely many closed geodesics on the $2$-sphere.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1406.3107

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zbMATH Keywords

closed geodesicsMorse theoryhomology of loop spacesGromoll-Meyer theoremLuysternik-Schnirelmann theorem

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Research exposition (monographs, survey articles) pertaining to differential geometry (53-02) Geodesics in global differential geometry (53C22) Loop spaces (55P35) Abstract critical point theory (Morse theory, Lyusternik-Shnirel'man theory, etc.) in infinite-dimensional spaces (58E05) Research exposition (monographs, survey articles) pertaining to manifolds and cell complexes (57-02)

Cited In (26)

• Morse theory and Floer homology. Translated from the French by Reinie Erné
• The string topology coproduct on complex and quaternionic projective space
• String topology in three flavors
• Existence results for closed Finsler geodesics via spherical complexities
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• Contact geometry in the restricted threebody problem: a survey
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• Some computations in string topology
• Reflexive homology
• Morse Theory, the Conley Index and Floer Homology
• Equivariant Morse theory and closed geodesics
• The existence of two non-contractible closed geodesics on every bumpy Finsler compact space form
• Homotopy properties of horizontal loop spaces and applications to closed sub-Riemannian geodesics
• \(C^0\)-robustness of topological entropy for geodesic flows
• Geometric and topological properties of manifolds in robot motion planning
• The non-contractibility of closed geodesics on Finsler \(\mathbb{R} P^n\)
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• \(C^0\)-robustness of topological entropy for geodesic flows
• Two short closed geodesics on a sphere of odd dimension
• Resonance identity and multiplicity of non-contractible closed geodesics on Finsler \(\mathbb{R} P^n\)
• Controlled Reeb dynamics -- three lectures not in Cala Gonone
• Quantum Steenrod squares and the equivariant pair-of-pants in symplectic cohomology
• Persistence modules, symplectic Banach–Mazur distance and Riemannian metrics
• Simple closed geodesics in dimensions \(\geq 3\)

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