Some computations in string topology

Abstract: In this paper, we discuss Hochschild chain models for some of the string topology operations. We use these models to simplify the proofs and computations of some of the results in string topology. Along the way we also make some new observations. We further discuss how nonnilpotent local level homology classes with respect to the Chas-Sullivan and the Goresky-Hingston product detect closed geodesics with optimal index growth rates.