On the area of a polygonal linkage (Q416955)

The main purpose of the paper under review is to study the critical points of oriented area regarded as a function on the moduli space of a polygonal linkage. In all cases, the corresponding nongenericity conditions determine some closed sets with empty interior in the parameter space \({\mathbb R}^n_+\). Connections with the electrostatic potential of the system of unit charges located at the vertices of the linkage are also provided in the present paper.