Brake orbits for Hamiltonian systems of classical type via Finsler geodesics

Abstract

We consider Hamiltonian functions of classical type, namely even and convex with respect to the generalized momenta. A brake orbit is a periodic solution of Hamilton's equations such that the generalized momenta are zero on two different points. Under mild assumptions, this paper reduces the multiplicity problem of the brake orbits for a Hamiltonian function of classical type to the multiplicity problem of orthogonal geodesic chords in a concave Finslerian manifold with boundary. This paper will be used for a generalization of a Seifert's conjecture about the multiplicity of brake orbits to Hamiltonian functions of classical type.