Variational Analysis: Critical Extremals and Sturmian Extensions

This text presents extended separation, comparison, and oscillation theorems that replace the classical analysis of Legendre, Jacobi, Hilbert, and others. Its analysis of related quadratic functionals shows how critical extremals can substitute for minimizing extremals.Author Marston Morse is renowned for his development of a version of variational theory with applications to equilibrium problems in mathematical physics—the theory known as Morse theory, which forms a vital role in global an...