A generalization of the Weinstein-Moser theorems on periodic orbits of a Hamiltonian system near an equilibrium

We study the Hamiltonian system (HS) where H ε C² ( ^2N, ) satisfies H (0) = 0, H′ (0) = 0 and the quadratic form ) is non-degenerate. We fix τ₀ > 0 and assume that ²N E F decomposes into linear subspaces E and F which are invariant under the flow associated to the linearized system (LHS) = JH″ (0) x and such that each solution of (LHS) in E is τ₀-periodic whereas no solution of (LHS) in F − 0 is τ₀-periodic. We write σ(τ₀) = σ_Q(τ₀) for the signature of the quadratic form Q restricted to E. If σ(τ₀) ≠ 0 then there exist periodic solutions of (HS) arbitrarily close to 0. More precisely we show, either there exists a sequence x_k → 0 of τ_k-periodic orbits on the energy level H⁻¹ (0) with τ_k → τ₀; or for each λ close to 0 with λσ(τ₀) > 0 the energy level H⁻¹ (λ) contains at least distinct periodic orbits of (HS) near 0 with periods near τ₀. This generalizes a result of Weinstein and Moser who assumed QE to be positive definite.