Maslov index in semi-Riemannian submersions

Abstract

We study focal points and Maslov index of a horizontal geodesic $\gamma:I\to M$ in the total space of a semi-Riemannian submersion $\pi:M\to B$ by determining an explicit relation with the corresponding objects along the projected geodesic $\pi\circ\gamma:I\to B$ in the base space. We use this result to calculate the focal Maslov index of a (spacelike) geodesic in a stationary space-time which is orthogonal to a timelike Killing vector field.