Introduction to the Group of Symplectomorphisms

Abstract

In these Lecture Notes of a mini-course delivered in the " Séminaire Itinérant de Géometrie et Physique Mathématique, " Geometry and Physics V" at the University Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar in May 2007, we introduce the group of symplectic diffeomorphisms, the main results on its algebraic structure and on some of its local and global properties. This survey culminates with the most recent results on Hofer geometry, the definitions of the groups of symplectic and hamiltonian homeomorphisms, and the introduction to the $C^0$ symplectic topology.