Rotation numbers of projectivities (Q1910853)

For a nonempty convex open region \(D\) in \(\mathbb{R}^2\), bounded by a closed curve \(C\), any \(a \in D\) defines a map \(f_a : C \to C\), such that \(f_a(x)\) is the second intersection of the line \(xa\) with \(C\), and any \(n\)-tuple \(A := (a_1, a_2, \dots, a_n) \in D^n\) defines the function \(f_A := f_{a_n} \circ f_{a_{n-1}} \circ \dots \circ f_{a_1}\). Given that \(f_A\) is an orientation preserving homeomorphism of \(C\) onto itself, and \(C\) is homeomorphic to \(S^1\), one can define the rotation number of \(f_A\), denoted by \(\rho(A)\). The authors investigate the dynamical properties of \(f_A\) depending on \(C\) and \(\rho(A)\). Among the results obtained are: the determination of the range \(\{\rho(A) \mid A \in D^n\}\) for a given \(C\) (where one has to make a distinction between the case when \(C\) is a polygon with less than \(n\) sides and the case when it is not), and a characterization of the ellipse as the curve \(C\) for which, if \(n \geq 3\) and \(k \geq 1\) are integers and \(\rho(A) = (2k + 1)/2\) for some \(A \in D^n\), then \(f^2_A = \text{id}\) for all \(A \in \rho^{-1} ((2k +1)/2)\).