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This paper is concerned with the "almost existence" phenomenon for periodic orbits of Hamiltonian dynamical systems. In particular, we recover this result in both some standard and some novel cases via feral curves and an adiabatic degeneration., Comment: 41 pages

Here we prove that for each Hamiltonian function $H\in \mathcal{C}^\infty(\mathbb{R}^4, \mathbb{R})$ defined on the standard symplectic $(\mathbb{R}^4, \omega_0)$, for which $M:=H^{-1}(0)$ is a non-empty compact regular energy level, the Hamiltonian flow on $M$ is not minimal. That is, we prove there exists a closed invariant subset of the Hamiltonian flow in $M$ that is neither $\emptyset$ nor all of $M$. This answers the four dimensional case of a twenty year old question of Michel Herman, part of which can be regarded as a special case of the Gottschalk Conjecture. Our principal technique is the introduction and development of a new class of pseudoholomorphic curve in the "symplectization" $\mathbb{R} \times M$ of framed Hamiltonian manifolds $(M, \lambda, \omega)$. We call these feral curves because they are allowed to have infinite (so-called) Hofer energy, and hence may limit to invariant sets more general than the finite union of periodic orbits. Standard pseudoholomorphic curve analysis is inapplicable without energy bounds, and thus much of this manuscript is devoted to establishing properties of feral curves, such as area and curvature estimates, energy thresholds, compactness, asymptotic properties, etc.

Here we extend the notion of target-local Gromov convergence of pseudoholomorphic curves to the case in which the target manifold is not compact, but rather is exhausted by compact neighborhoods. Under the assumption that the curves in question have uniformly bounded area and genus on each of the compact regions (but not necessarily global bounds), we prove a subsequence converges in an exhaustive Gromov sense., Comment: 24 pages

This is a lecture note prepared for the SFT 9 workshop in Augsburg, Germany. The text describes a polyfold approach to the construction of symplectic field theory and focuses on the perturbation and transversality theory., Comment: 134 pages and 27 figures

Some early chapters of the upcoming book "Polyfold Constructions: Tools, Techniques, and Functors", Comment: Preliminary version

Notes for the upcoming Workshop on Symplectic Field Theory IX, Polyfolds for SFT. These notes are essentially the first few chapters of a forthcoming book entitled "Polyfold Constructions: Tools, Techniques, and Functors"

We consider a $3$-manifold $M$ equipped with nondegenerate contact form $\lambda$ and compatible almost complex structure $J$. We show that if the data $(M, \lambda, J)$ admits a stable finite energy foliation, then for a generic choice of distinct points $p$, $q\in M$, the manifold $M'$ formed by taking the connected sum at $p$ and $q$ admits a nondegenerate contact form $\lambda'$ and compatible almost complex structure $J'$ so that the data $(M', \lambda', J')$ also admits a stable finite energy foliation. Along the way, we develop some general theory for the study of finite energy foliations., Comment: 78 pages, 4 figures; edited to incorporate referee suggestions; accepted for publication in Journal of Symplectic Geometry

Polyfold theory was developed by Hofer-Wysocki-Zehnder by finding commonalities in the analytic framework for a variety of geometric elliptic PDEs, in particular moduli spaces of pseudoholomorphic curves. It aims to systematically address the common difficulties of compactification and transversality with a new notion of smoothness on Banach spaces, new local models for differential geometry, and a nonlinear Fredholm theory in the new context. We shine meta-mathematical light on the bigger picture and core ideas of this theory. In addition, we compiled and condensed the core definitions and theorems of polyfold theory into a streamlined exposition, and outline their application at the example of Morse theory., Comment: 62 pages, 2 figures. Example 2.1.3 has been modified. Final version, to appear in the EMS Surv. Math. Sci

We determine the Conley-Zehnder indices of all periodic orbits of the rotating Kepler problem for energies below the critical Jacobi energy. Consequently, we show the universal cover of the bounded component of the regularized energy hypersurface is dynamically convex. Moreover, in the universal cover there is always precisely one periodic orbit with Conley-Zehnder index 3, namely the lift of the doubly covered retrograde circular orbit., Comment: 18 pages, 3 figures

The restricted planar three-body problem has a rich history, yet many unanswered questions still remain. In the present paper we prove the existence of a global surface of section near the smaller body in a new range of energies and mass ratios for which the Hill's region still has three connected components. The approach relies on recent global methods in symplectic geometry and contrasts sharply with the perturbative methods used until now., Comment: 11 pages, 1 figure

Here we develop some basic analytic tools to study compactness properties of $J$-curves (i.e. pseudo-holomorphic curves) when regarded as submanifolds. Incorporating techniques from the theory of minimal surfaces, we derive an inhomogeneous mean curvature equation for such curves, we establish an extrinsic monotonicity principle for non-negative functions $f$ satisfying $\Delta f\geq -c^2 f$, we show that curves locally parameterized as a graph over a coordinate tangent plane have all derivatives a priori bounded in terms of curvature and ambient geometry, and we establish $\epsilon$-regularity for the square length of their second fundamental forms. These results are all provided for $J$-curves either with or without Lagrangian boundary and hold in almost Hermitian manifolds of arbitrary even dimension (i.e. Riemannian manifolds for which the almost complex structure is an isometry)., Comment: 48 Pages. Modifications: Application section added to the introduction; also NSF grant support updated.

We prove a version of Gromov's compactness theorem for pseudo-holomorphic curves which holds locally in the target symplectic manifold. This result applies to sequences of curves with an unbounded number of free boundary components, and in families of degenerating target manifolds which have unbounded geometry (e.g. no uniform energy threshold). Core elements of the proof regard curves as submanifolds (rather than maps) and then adapt methods from the theory of minimal surfaces., Comment: 49 Pages. Modifications: NSF grant support updated.