Miguel Abreu

(work with Macarini)

Problem: existence of elliptic orbits (i.e. all eigenvalues of return map on unit circle)

Elliptic closed orbits give many dynamical consequences (e.g. KAM tori; transverse homoclinic connections?; positivity of topological entropy)

Conjecture of Ekeland: every convex hypersurface in $\mathbb{R}^{2n}$ carries an elliptic closed orbit.

In general, still open.

Thm (Dall Antionio, D'Oriofrio & Ekeland '95)
If $M \subset \mathbb R^{2n}$ convex and invariant by antipodal map, then carries an elliptic closed orbit.

Goal: understand and generalize this using contact homology.

Thm (Abreu-Macarini)

Consider a prequantization manifold $(M, \xi = \ker \beta)$ where $\beta$ generates a free $S^1$ action.

Let $\alpha$ be some other contact form. Let $G \subset S^1$ be a finite subgroup. Suppose $\alpha$ is invariant under the $G$ action.

Let $a$ be the free homotopy class of the fibre of $M$.

Assume one of the following holds:

• $M/S^1$ admits a Morse function with only even indices
• $a^j \ne 0$ for all $j \ge 1$.

Then for every $G$-invariant positively [negatively] $a$-dynamically convex form $\alpha$ has an elliptic orbit representing the class $a$ with $CZ(\gamma) = k_-$ [respectively $k_+$].

Definition: Fix a free homotopy class of loops $a$. Associate to $a$ the minimal degree $k_-$ and maximal degree $k_+$ in which contact homology is non-zero for this class.

We say positively $a$-dynamically convex if all closed orbits in the free class $a$ have at least CZ index $k_-$. (Negatively, at most $k_+$) [ok, modulo the grading shift or whatever]

Applications:
Suppose have metric $g$ on $S^2$ with $\frac{1}{4} \le \kappa \le 1$. Then there is an elliptic closed geodesic.

Proof: Harris-Paternain proved that this curvature condition means the geodesic flow lifts to dynamically convex on $S^3$ + perturbation.

Rmk different proof exists (Ballmann, Thorbergsson & Ziller) and furthermore maybe better result due to Contrera and Oliveira (http://arxiv.org/abs/math/0312005)

Also an application to magnetic flows. $T^*N$ with $\omega_0 + \pi^* \Omega$ for a closed 2-form $\Omega$. Take Hamiltonian from geodesic flow.

Benedetti: If $N$ is a surface of genus $g \ne 1$, and $\Omega$ is symplectic on $N$, then small energy levels are contact-type. If $g=0$, lifts to $S^3$ and is dynamically convex.

If $g > 1$, there exists a $|\chi_N|$ covering $\tilde M \to H^{-1}(c)$ such that $\tilde M$ is prequant
and the lift to $\tilde M$ is negatively dynamically convex.

Toric contact manifolds:
$(M^{2n-1}, \xi)$ has $\mathbb T^{n}$ action. (equivalently: symplectization is toric symplectic cone)

"Good" toric contact manifolds: $\mathbb{C}^d // K$ for some $K \subset \mathbb T^d$ linear sub-torus.

Miguel made an interesting remark about being able to construct examples in higher dimensions with finitely many periodic orbits. This is related to a question from Michael's talk. He wondered then if the correct generalization of Michael's conjecture is to suggest that the only manifolds with finitely many distinct orbits are these toric contact manifolds.

Marco Mazzucchelli

Isometry invariant geodesics

(a question from Grove?)

Key idea: Marco is interested in geometrically distinct geodesic arcs. The key tool is to consider the local homology of a critical point/set. The idea is to look at the local homology of iterates.

(For instance, to find infinitely many geodesics from p to q, the variational problem doesn't have a $\mathbb{Z}/m$ symmetry anymore, so cannot use the symmetry anymore)

Suppose I is an isometry. Want the existence of $\tau$ so $I( \gamma(t) ) = \gamma( t + \tau)$.

If $I$ is the identity, then just looking for closed.

Question: when do we have infinitely many invariant geodesics?

Thm (Grove): If there exists a non-closed $I$ invariant geodesic then the closure of $\gamma(\mathbb R)$ contains uncountably infinitely many $I$-invariant geodesics.

It therefore remains to study periodic $I$ invariant geodesics.

Variational setting:
$$ \Lambda( M, I )
=
\{
\gamma \colon \mathbb R \to M
\, | \,
I ( \gamma(t) )
= \gamma (t+1)
\quad \forall t \in \mathbb R
\}
$$

Has $\mathbb R$ action by time shift.

Energy $E( \gamma ) = \int_0^1 | \dot \gamma |^2 dt$

The critical points of $E$ are $I$-invariant geodesics. The critical orbit of $\gamma$ is $\mathbb R$ if not closed, or $S^1$ if closed.

Warning: every such $\gamma$ comes with infinitely many critical points of $E$.

$\tau \in \mathbb R$. $\gamma^\tau(t) = \gamma( \tau t)$.
For each $\gamma$ that is a periodic critical point of $E$ of period $p \ge 1$, also have $\gamma^{mp + 1}$ for any $m \in \mathbb{N}$.

Study Morse-theoretic properties of this set $\{ \gamma^{mp+1} \}$.

Grove-Tanaka: show that $m \mapsto nul( \gamma^{mp+1})$ is bounded,
$m \mapsto index( \gamma^{mp+1} )$ groes linearly and finally $m \mapsto rank L_*( \gamma^{mp+1})$ is bounded.

Theorem: Assume $\pi_1(M) =0$ and $I$ is homotopic to the identity and $H^*(M, \mathbb Q)$ has more than 1 generator.

Then, there exist infinitely many $I$-invariant geodesics.

(RMK: I homotopic to the identity allows us to identify the homology of $\Lambda(M, I)$ with the loop space homology.)

(When $I$ is the identity, this recovers Gromoll-Meyer theorem.)

Theorem (Mazzucchelli):
Assume:

•  $M = M_1 \times M_2$ (as manifolds... do not require a product metric).
•  $rank H_1(M, \mathbb Z) > 0$ and $dim M_2 \ge 2$.
•  $I$ is homotopic to the identity.

Then, there exist infinitely many $I$-invariant geodesics.


Theorem (M):

in a general setting: if exist $\gamma$ closed $I$ invariant and $d \ge 2$ such that $L_*( \gamma^{mp+1})$ is non-trivial for infinitely many $m$ then there are infinitely many $I$ invariant geodesics.


Marco remarks that the ideas are closely related to Umberto's discussion of symplectically degenerate maxima.

IMPA conference: Michael Hutchings

Questions:

(1) Can we improve lower bound on number of closed Reeb orbits?
(2) Can we get existence with a priori upper bound on length?
(3) Can we replace Reeb vector fields with something else?

Theorem for (1): Hutchings & Taubes. 2008. $M^3$ contact, compact, oriented. At least two distinct orbits for non-degenerate. If manifold is not $S^3$ or lens space, then have at least 3 (again, assume non-degenerate).

Theorem (Cristofaro-Gardiner & Gripp-Ramos 2012)
Every possibly degenerate contact form on a closed oriented $M^3$ has two embedded Reeb orbits.

Conjecture (Ekeland-Hofer): every star-shaped hypersurface in $\mathbb{R}^{2n}$ has at least $n$ closed Reeb orbits.

If contact form non-degenerate, conjecture follows by an argument from CH algebra. (Jean Gutt explained this to me earlier. [INSERT EXPLANATION HERE])

Colin-Honda 2008: for many contact structures $\xi$ on closed oriented $Y^3$, every contact form $\ker \alpha = \xi$ has infinitely many distinct orbits. (Uses linearized CH.)

Conjecture: $Y^3$ closed oriented connected different from $S^3$ or a lens space, then every contact form on $Y$ has infinitely many embedded Reeb orbits.

Definition: volume of $(Y, \alpha)$ is $\int \alpha \wedge d\alpha$.

Question: Does there exist $c(Y, \xi)$ so $A(\gamma)^2 \le c(Y, \xi) vol(Y, \alpha)$ for some closed $\gamma$?

Stronger version: $c(Y, \xi) \le 1$.

$\newcommand{\vol}{\mathrm{vol}}$

Examples: Take a prequantization bundle with Euler class $e$ and $\omega = 2\pi e$. Take some positive function $f \colon \Sigma \to \mathbb{R}$. Then look at $f \alpha_0$.

Conjecture holds for this example, since $ vol( Y, f \alpha_0) = 2 \pi \int_{\Sigma} f^2 \omega
\ge 4 \pi^2 e \min(f^2)$. Action of critical fibres are $2\pi f(x)$ (where $x$ is a critical point of $f$.)

Another example: relationship to systolic inequalities.
Take $g$ a Riemannian metric on $S^2$ with area $4 \pi$. Then, action of a Reeb orbit agrees with the length of the corresponding geodesic.

Go to double cover $S^3$ and take pull-back contact form. This gives volume $16 \pi^2$. Reeb orbits are even geoedeics (geods which determine plane curves with odd rotation number). The conjecture then says there is an even geodesic of length $\le 4 \pi$.

This is sharp for the round metric (double cover of a great circle on $S^2$).

Calabi-Croke example: two flat equilateral triangles glued together to give metric of area $4 \pi$ and no closed geodesics of length $\le 2 \pi$. However! exists an even geodesic of length $\le 4 \pi$.

Sketch of proof : suppose $Y$ has only two Reeb orbits. Then, some trickery and work shows that you can construct a foliation from $u$ map. (Foliation by cylinders) This gives a genus 1 Heegaard splitting.

Some consequences of isomorphism to SW Floer homology:
non-canonical $\mathbb{Z}$ grading when $c_1(\xi) + 2 PD(\Gamma)$ is torsion.

For sufficiently negative grading, $ECH$ vanishes. For sufficiently large grading, $U : ECH_* \to ECH_{*-2}$ is isomorphism. Infinitely many $*$ so $ECH_*$ non-zero.

Filtered ECH: look at subcomplex filtered by action. This depends heavily on the contact form.

Michael with Daniel & Vinicius (2012) : consider sequence of classes so that $U \sigma_{k+1} = \sigma_k$. Then they show $\lim_k c_{\sigma_k}(Y, \alpha)^2/ k = 2 \vol(Y, \alpha)$.

Another theorem with the usual suspects: Suppose $(Y, \alpha)$ closed connected 3-man. Then, either exists a short Reeb orbit OR at least 3 embedded Reeb orbits.

Idea uses some trickery with the $U$ map. I guess the key idea is that having 2 orbits means that the picture looks an awful lot like the ellipsoid.

IMPA conference: Mihai Damien

Mihai discussed some results about the topology of Lagrangian submanifolds and pointed out the difference between monotone (rigid) and the flexible results of Yasha, Tobias, Ivan and Emmy. His key method: Lifted Floer homology.

Morse Theory

Want to do Morse theory on the universal cover of a manifold. Have an infinite dimensional complex. Define $d \tilde x = \sum \tilde y$, where the sum is over lifts of gradient lines. If you fix one lift $\tilde x$ in each class, then you can reinterpret this as a complex generated by critical points but now over $R[ \pi_1(L) ]$ ($R$ is the base ring.)

Floer theory

Look at image of $u(s,0)$ in differential to tell us how to interpret going between two different lifts of a given intersection point of $L, L'$. Problem: if $N_L =2$, $d^2 \ne 0$ in this case. Can bubble disks. The issue is then that
(Thm, Oh) $$ d^2 x = \sum (disks) x$$, where we consider the count of Maslov 2 disks passing through $x$.

*Prop* (Oh): L monotone, $N_L = 2$, and $L, L'$ Hamiltonian isotopic. Then, the number passing through $x$ on $L$ and the number on $L'$ passing through $x$ have the same parity.

Therefore, at least $mod 2$, we have $d^2 = 0$, at least in classical Floer homology.

 In this lifted picture on the universal cover, we have some trouble:
If $g \in \pi_1(L, x)$ has $g = [w( \partial D]$, then this disk on $L$ counts as $g$ and a similar disk on $L'$ counts as 1. Thus, $$d^2(\tilde x) = \sum_{g \in \pi_1(L) } (1+g) \#_2^g(x).$$
 And where $\#_2^g(x)$ is the [mod 2] number of Maslov 2 disks whose boundaries are in homotopy class $g$.
 In particular then, have well-defined if $N_L \ge 3$.

 If not defined: Fix some $g$ so $\#_2^g = 1$. Now, take $\gamma \in \pi_1(L, x)$. We now construct some kind of cobordism to go from $g$ to $\gamma g \gamma^{-1}$. (Idea is to move the marked point in the evaluation map around the loop $\gamma$. It is important that we consider the based fundamental group and not the free one.)
 Thus, the set $\{ \gamma g \gamma^{-1} \, | \, \gamma \in \pi_1(L, x) \}$ is finite. (Gromov compactness + rigidity)
Thus, $Z(g)$ is of finite index.

UPSHOT: defined/not-defined is a key tool in Mihai's work. This is a really cool variation of the usual pain we have to say something is well-defined.

Dan Popovici (Toulouse) - “Deformation Limits of Compact Kaehler Manifolds.”

The speaker considered the following situation: suppose $\pi \colon X \to D$ is a proper holomorphic submersion. Let $n$ be the complex dimension of the fibre, and suppose fibres compact.

Example of Hironaka '62:

explicit example where fibres $X_t$, $t \ne 0$ are projective but $X_0$ is not Kähler.

Conjecture:

If $X_t$ Kähler, then $X_0$ should be a class $\mathcal C$ manifold.

Definition:

$X$ is class $\mathcal C$ if exists $\mu \colon \tilde X \to X$ proper, holomorphic, bimeromorphic and $\tilde X$ is Kähler.

i.e. should think of $X$ as blown up Kähler.

Theorem

(Demailly, Pali 2004??) Suppose $X$ compact, cplx. $X$ is of class $\mathcal C$ if and only if there is a Kähler current $T$. (i.e. $T$ is a $(1,1)$ current, $dT = 0$ and $T \ge \epsilon \omega$ where $\omega$ is a $C^\infty$ $(1,1)$ form on $X$.)
The goal is then to produce a Kähler current on $X_0$. Dan then showed the problem reduced to studying a conjecture of Demailly on "transcendental Morse inequalities".

Barney Bramham (IAS) on a conjecture of Katok

$\newcommand{\Fix}{\operatorname{Fix}} \newcommand{\dbar}{ {\bar \partial}} \newcommand{\R}{\mathbb{R}} \newcommand{\C}{\mathbb{C}} \newcommand{\Q}{\mathbb{Q}} \newcommand{\Z}{\mathbb{Z}} \newcommand{\Symp}{\operatorname{Symp}} \newcommand{\Id}{\operatorname{Id}} \newcommand{\e}{\operatorname{e}} \newcommand{\pt}{\mathrm{pt}} \newcommand{\tensor}{\otimes} \newcommand{\Det}{\operatorname{Det}} \newcommand{\Aut}{\operatorname{Aut}} \newcommand{\coker}{\operatorname{coker}} \newcommand{\Diff}{\operatorname{Diff}} \renewcommand{\top}{\text{top}} \newcommand{\bdy}{\partial} \newcommand{\id}{\mathbb{id}} \newcommand{\semidirect}{\ltimes} \newcommand{\operatorname}{\mathrm} $
Question (A. Katok): In low dimensions, is every conservative dynamical system with $h_\top = 0$ a limit of integrable systems?

Low dimensions = 2 dims for maps and 3 dims for flows;
Conservative = area/volume preserving;
Limit = to be defined;
integrable system = a disk map is integrable if exists a function $f \colon D \to \R$ not constant on any open set, $\phi^*f = f$.

$h_\top \in [0, \infty]$ describes the complexity of the system.

Definition: ($h_\top = 0$) A pseudorotation is an area preserving disk map such that $\phi(0) = 0$ and without any other periodic points.

Franks: a.e. point $z \in D \setminus \{ 0 \}$ has a well defined rotation number about $0$. The lack of other periodic points is eqvt (?) to saying these are the same and equal to an irrational number $\alpha$.

Theorem (Anosov-Katok '70s) There exist ergodic pseudorotations.
In particular a.e. $z \in D$ has a dense orbit.

Theorem Let $\phi$ be a pseudorotation with irrational rotation number $\alpha$. There exists a sequence of smooth $\phi_n$ (fixing $0$) which converge to $\phi$ in $C^0$, and such that for all $n$ exists diffeo $g_n$ (fixing $0$) and $p_n/q_n \to \alpha$ s.t. $\phi_n = g_n^{-1} \circ R_{2\pi p_n/q_n} \circ g_n$.

Two questions: can $\phi_n$ be made symplectic? can we obtain higher regularity of convergence?

Remark: if we consider such a sequence of homeo
$\phi_n$ and $p_n/q_n \to \alpha$, and these $C^0$-converge to an area preserving homeo $\phi$, then $\phi$ is a pseudorotation.

Also remark: this is more-or-less how Anosov-Katok construct their examples.

Pseudoholo curves for disk maps

Assume $\phi$ area preserving diffeo. Suspend this to a ``Hamiltonian'' mapping torus. Obtain symplectization $ \R \times S^1 \times D^2$.
The boundary, $ \R \times S^1 \times \bdy D^2$ is filled by two-tori, called $L_a = \{ a \} \times S^1 \times \bdy D^2$. Totally real.
If $\phi$ non-degenerate then exists a FEF. Some remarks about removal of the condition that the map be a rotation at the boundary, also about existence of many foliations, also existence of FEF with certain prescribed orbits as binding.
Claim: projected map has smooth extension to the boundary!?!?

Approximating pseudorotations

Suppose $\phi \in \Diff^\infty( D, \omega_0)$ is an area preserving disk map.

Take a mapping torus. Lift to universal cover.

Identify each trajectory with a holomorphic curve. Call this a vertical plane. Obtain the vertical foliation.

The claim is that given a vertical (?) foliation, we can construct a map.

Strategy: if $\phi$ is a pseudorotation, find a sequence of foliations so that the $d\lambda$ area is going to $0$. Specifically, we have a sequence of foliations so $d\lambda$ is the fractional part of $n \alpha$, where $\alpha$ is the rot number of $\phi$. Take a subsequence $n_j$ so this goes to $0$.

Each foliation induces a map $\phi_{n_j}$. The claim is that this converges to $\phi$ since the foliations converge to a vertical foliation.

Furthermore, by the construction, $\phi_{n_j}^{(n_j)} = \id$.

Note that we used $| Per(\phi)| = 1$ to know the energies, and also to obtain that each $\mathcal F_n$ is invariant under deck transformations.

somehow, this periodicity tells one that it is ocnjugate to a rational rotation.

Open Question: (Fayad-Katok) Does there exist a strong-mixing area preserving disk map?
Known: suppose that $\phi$ is an irrational pseudorotation. There is some contrast between Diophantine vs Liouville.

Herman showed that Diophantine implies $\phi$ is not strong mixing.
Fayad-Sapryking 2005, Anosov-Katok : any more Liouville than Herman has weak mixing examples.

Barney seems to show that $\alpha$ being sufficiently Liouville gives NOT strong mixing by these foliations. Actually $C^0$ rigid.

Some directions of future work:

Herman asks: If $\alpha$ is diophantine, must $\phi$ be conjugate to a rotation?
2010: Fayad-Kritoriam, answer is yes if $\phi$ is globally close to to a rotation. (Close in $C^k$ norm for a value that depends on the
diophantine order of $\alpha$)

Answers to questions I asked him:
- removing rotation condition is actually delicate. It involves some approximations due to Herman for circle diffeos, and is nontrivial.

- Liouville condition comes in only when he proves the lack of strong
mixing. This is somehow related to showing the foliation is translation invt.

David Farris (Indian Institute of Science/UC Berkeley) The embedded contact homology of circle bundles over Riemann surfaces

The abstract:

Embedded contact homology is a topological invariant of three-manifolds defined by choosing a contact structure on the manifold and studying pseudoholomorphic curves in the four-dimensional symplectization. We compute this invariant for circle bundles over Riemann surfaces (prequantization spaces).


David gave a brief introduction to ECH and then sketched the proof of his thesis result. He computed the ECH invariant for non-trivial circle bundles over surfaces by taking the prequantization contact form. Note that since ECH is a smooth invariant, one is free to take any contact structure on this.

The main result is that, with $Y$ denoting the circle bundle and $\Sigma$ the base,
\[
ECH(Y) = \oplus_{d \ge 1} Sym^d( H_*(\Sigma) )
\]
Furthermore, recall that ECH has a filtration by $H_1(Y)$, representing the homology class of the generators in question. We note that $H_1(Y) = \mathbb{Z}/|e| \oplus \mathbb{Z}^{2g+2}$, where $g$ is the genus of $\Sigma$. The torsion factor is the only relevant one. Then,
\[
ECH(Y, l) = ???see notes??
\]

The key difficulty is that for an $S^1$-invariant complex structure, one can show that the index $1$ moduli spaces are empty... however, these $S^1$-invariant acs are not generic. David solves this problem by first showing the moduli spaces are empty for a domain dependent perturbation. He is able to carry out the Cieliebak-Mohnke/Fabert methods, even though he has genus, essentially because the formation of a ghost bubble with genus is codimension at least 2. (This uses the fact we are in dimension 4 quite crucially). Then, the next tricky point is to show that the count of embedded curves remains $0$ as he deforms the $S^1$-invariant domain-dependent almost complex structure to a generic domain-independent complex structure. This relies on a theorem of Hutchings and Taubes about bifurcations, since David can rule out connectors in the compactness argument.

In thinking about this, I wonder if there is a way of making sense of this as some statement about moduli spaces with an $S^1$ action. This is an idea Jian He explained to me, and is the heart of the geometric picture behind his work on descendants. The general principle (stolen from localization in algebraic geometry) is that if you have a non-generic $J$ and a moduli space of which a connected component has a free $S^1$ action, then after perturbation, this connected component still can be arranged to have an $S^1$ action, in particular then, not contribute to the count of isolated solutions. If one could understand this principle in dimension 4 for embedded curves, it might then be possible to extend David's result to the case of a trivial circle bundle. (Ironically, that case seems harder.)