Morse Homology
Matthias Schwarz
Birkhäuser Boston
This book presents a link between modern analysis and topology. Based upon classical Morse theory it develops the finite dimensional analogue of Floer homology which, in the recent years, has come to play a significant role in geometry. Morse homology naturally arises from the gradient dynamical system associated with a Morse function. The underlying chain complex, already considered by Thom, Smale, Milnor and Witten, analogously forms the basic ingredient of Floer's homology theory. This concept of relative Morse theory in combination with Conley's continuation principle lends itself to an axiomatic homology functor. The present approach consistenly employs analytic methods in strict analogy with the construction of Floers homology groups. That is a calculus for certain nonlinear Fredholm operators on Banach manifolds which here are curve spaces and within which the solution sets form the focal moduli spaces. The book offers a systematic and comprehensive presentation of the analysis of these moduli spaces. All theorems within this analytic schedule comprising Fredholm theory, regularity and compactness results, gluing and orientation analysis, together with their proofs and pre-requisite material, are examined here in detail. This exposition thus brings a methodological insight into present-day analysis.