The pentagram map: a discrete integrable system (Q5962389)

A twisted \(n\)-gon associated to a projective automorphism \(M\) (called monodromy) of the real projective plane \(\mathbb{RP}^2\) is a map \(\varphi:\mathbb{Z}\to\mathbb{RP}^2\) such that \(\varphi(k+n)=M\circ\varphi(k),\;k\in\mathbb{Z}\). The pentagram map, introduced in \textit{R. Schwartz} [Exp. Math. 1, No.\,1, 71--81 (1992; Zbl 0765.52004)], assigns to every convex closed \(n\)-gon \(P\) the convex hull \(T(P)\) of the intersection points of consecutive shortest diagonals of \(P\). The action of the pentagram map on the space \(\mathcal{P}_n\) of twisted \(n\)-gons (modulo the equivalence induced by a projective transformation) was studied and, for each \(n\), a family of invariant functions (called weighted monodromy invariants) was indicated in \textit{R. Schwartz} [J. Fixed Point Theory Appl. 3, No.~2, 379--409 (2008; Zbl 1148.51001)]. In particular, there are \(2\) such invariants when \(n\) is odd, respectively 4 invariants when \(n\) is even, with a special behavior. The main result of the paper under review states that there exists a Poisson structure on \({\mathcal P}_n\) having co-rank 2 when \(n\) is odd and co-rank 4 when \(n\) is even. The special monodromy invariants mentioned above (which are precisely the Casimir functions of the structure) generically span the null space of the Poisson structure, while the rest of the invariants Poisson-commute. Some geometric examples are presented (including, in particular, the universally convex \(n\)-gons) where the main theorem leads to the quasi-periodic motion for the dynamics of the pentagram map. A new coordinate system for \({\mathcal P}_n\) is introduced and used to prove that the continuous limit of the pentagram map is preciselly the Boussinesq equation. It is finally shown that the constructed Poisson bracket can be viewed as a discrete analog of the first Poisson structure of the Boussinesq equation.