Non-contractible closed geodesics on compact Finsler space forms without self-intersections

Abstract

Let $M=S^n/ \Gamma$ and $h \in \pi_1(M)$ be a non-trivial element of finite order $p$, where the integers $n, p\geq2$ and $\Gamma$ is a finite abelian group which acts on the sphere freely and isometrically, therefore $M$ is diffeomorphic to a compact space form which is typical a non-simply connected manifold. We prove there exist at least two non-contractible closed geodesics on $\mathbb{R}P^2$ and obtain the upper bounds on their lengths. Moreover, we prove there exist at least $n$ prime non-contractible simple closed geodesics on $(M,F)$ of prescribed class $[h]$, provided \[ F^2 <(\frac{\lambda+1}{\lambda})^2 g_0 \;\; \text{ and } \;\; (\frac{\lambda}{\lambda+1})^2 < K \leq 1 \text{ for $n$ is odd or }\; 0<K \leq 1 \text{ for $n$ is even}, \] where $\lambda$ is the reversibility, $K$ is the flag curvature and $g_0$ is standard Riemannian metric. Stability of these non-contractible closed geodesics is also studied.