On the finite blocking property (Q2485445)
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| Language | Label | Description | Also known as |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | On the finite blocking property |
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On the finite blocking property (English)
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4 August 2005
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A polygon is said to have the finite blocking property if every billiard orbit connecting two arbitrary points \(A\) and \(O\) on the boundary must intersect a finite set of boundary points. Such set depends on \(A\) and \(O\), but does not contain them. The author proves -- among other things -- that the only regular polygons having such property are the triangle, the square, and the hexagon. This definition extends to translation surfaces, for which some useful characterizations are derived.
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blocking property
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polygonal billiards
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regular polygons
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translation surfaces
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Veech surfaces
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torus branched covering
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illumination
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quadratic differentials
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