Closed Geodesics on Orbifolds of Revolution

Abstract

Using the theory of geodesics on surfaces of revolution, we show that any two-dimensional orbifold of revolution homeomorphic to S2 must contain an infinite number of geometrically distinct closed geodesics. Since any such orbifold of revolution can be regarded as a topological two-sphere with metric singularities, we will have extended Bangert\u27s theorem on the existence of infinitely many closed geodesics on any smooth Riemannian two-sphere. In addition, we give an example of a two-sphere cone-manifold of revolution which possesses a single closed geodesic, thus showing that Bangert\u27s result does not hold in the wider class of closed surfaces with cone manifold structures

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