Geometrical properties of Maslov indices in periodic-orbit theory

Abstract

Maslov indices in periodic-orbit theory are investigated using phase space path integral. Based on the observation that the Maslov index is the multi-valued function of the monodromy matrix, we introduce a generalized monodromy matrix in the universal covering space of the symplectic group and show that this index is uniquely determined in this space. The stability of the orbit is shown to determine the parity of the index, and a formula for the index of the n-repetition of the orbit is derived.