Action minimizing solutions of the Newtonian n-body problem: from homology to symmetry

An action minimizing path between two given configurations, spatial or planar, of the $n$-body problem is always a true -- collision-free -- solution. Based on a remarkable idea of Christian Marchal, this theorem implies the existence of new "simple" symmetric periodic solutions, among which the Eight for 3 bodies, the Hip-Hop for 4 bodies and their generalizations

Homology operations on homology of quandles

We consider various homological operations on homology of quandles. We introduce the notion of quandle partial derivatives, and extreme chains on which appropriate partial derivatives vanish. Extreme chains yield homological operations. We also consider the degree one homology operations created using elements of the quandle satisfying the so-called $k$-condition.Comment: 26 pages, 1 figur

Rabinowitz Floer homology and symplectic homology

The Rabinowitz-Floer homology groups $RFH_*(M,W)$ are associated to an exact embedding of a contact manifold $(M,\xi)$ into a symplectic manifold $(W,\omega)$. They depend only on the bounded component $V$ of $W\setminus M$. We construct a long exact sequence in which symplectic cohomology of $V$ maps to symplectic homology of $V$, which in turn maps to Rabinowitz-Floer homology $RFH_*(M,W)$, which then maps to symplectic cohomology of $V$. We compute $RFH_*(ST^*L,T^*L)$, where $ST^*L$ is the unit cosphere bundle of a closed manifold $L$. As an application, we prove that the image of an exact contact embedding of $ST^*L$ (endowed with the standard contact structure) cannot be displaced away from itself by a Hamiltonian isotopy, provided $\dim L\ge 4$ and the embedding induces an injection on $\pi_1$. In particular, $ST^*L$ does not admit an exact contact embedding into a subcritical Stein manifold if $L$ is simply connected. We also prove that Weinstein's conjecture holds in symplectic manifolds which admit exact displaceable codimension 0 embeddings.Comment: 59 pages, 8 figure