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We consider left-invariant distances d on a Lie group G with the property that there exists a multiplicative one-parameter group of Lie automorphisms (0,∞)→Aut(G), λ↦δλ, so that d(δ_λx,δ_λy)=λd(x,y), for all x,y∈G and all λ>0. First, we show that all such distances are admissible, that is, they induce the manifold topology. Second, we characterize multiplicative one-parameter groups of Lie automorphisms that are dilations for some left-invariant distance in terms of algebraic properties of their infinitesimal generator. Third, we show that an admissible left-invariant distance on a Lie group with at least one nontrivial dilating automorphism is bi-Lipschitz equivalent to one that admits a one-parameter group of dilating automorphisms. Moreover, the infinitesimal generator can be chosen to have spectrum in [1,∞). Fourth, we characterize the automorphisms of a Lie group that are a dilating automorphisms for some admissible distance. Finally, we characterize metric Lie groups admitting a one-parameter group of dilating automorphisms as the only locally compact, isometrically homogeneous metric spaces with metric dilations of all factors. Such metric spaces appear as tangents of doubling metric spaces with unique tangents.

The classical Morse theory proceeds by considering sublevel sets f^{−1}(−∞,a] of a Morse function f:M→R, where M is a smooth finite-dimensional manifold. In this paper, we study the topology of the level sets f^{−1}(a) and give conditions under which the topology of f^{−1}(a) changes when passing a critical value. We show that for a general class of functions, which includes all exhaustive Morse functions, the topology of a regular level f^{−1}(a) always changes when passing a single critical point, unless the index of the critical point is half the dimension of the manifold M. When f is a natural Hamiltonian on a cotangent bundle, we obtain more precise results in terms of the topology of the base space. (Counter-)examples and applications to celestial mechanics are also discussed.

We introduce the so-called doubling metric on the collection of non-empty bounded open subsets of a metric space. Given an open subset U of a metric space X, the predecessor U_∗ of U is defined by doubling the radii of all open balls contained inside U, and taking their union. The predecessor of U is an open set containing U. The directed doubling distance between U and another subset V is the number of times that the predecessor operation needs to be applied to U to obtain a set that contains V. Finally, the doubling distance between open sets U and V is the maximum of the directed distance between U and V and the directed distance between V and U.