The configuration space of almost regular polygons (Q2203645)

Configuration spaces of \(n\)-gons in the Euclidean space \(\mathbb{R}^d\) have been studied from a topological, an algorithmic or a kinematic viewpoint [\textit{G. M. Crippen} and \textit{T. F. Havel}, Distance geometry and molecular conformation. Chichester: Research Studies Press; New York, NY: Wiley (1988; Zbl 1066.51500); \textit{J. O'Hara}, Osaka J. Math. 50, No. 2, 477--489 (2013; Zbl 1271.65039); \textit{D. Shimamoto} and \textit{C. Vanderwaart}, Am. Math. Mon. 112, No. 4, 289--310 (2005; Zbl 1215.52012)]. The two first authors of this article have been interested in a mathematical model of \(n\)-membered ringed hydrocarbon molecules. They proved in [\textit{S. Goto} and \textit{K. Komatsu}, Hiroshima Math. J. 42, No. 1, 115--126 (2012; Zbl 1238.92069)], on the one hand that, if \(n= 5\) and \(\theta =\frac{7}{12}\pi\) is the average of bond angles of \(5\)-membered ringed hydrocarbon molecules, then \(C_{n}(\theta)\) is homeomorphic to the (\(n-4\))-dimensional sphere \(S^{n-4}\) and, on the other hand that, if \(n= 6,7\) and the fixed bond angle is tetrahedral angle \(\arccos(-\frac{1}{3})\) the standard bond angle of the carbon atom, then \(C_{n}(\theta)\) is homeomorphic to \(S^{n-4}\). Moreover, these results were generalized in [\textit{S. Goto} et al., Hiroshima Math. J. 42, No. 2, 253--266 (2012; Zbl 1257.55012)] as follows. If \(n= 5, 6,7\) and the bond angle \(\theta\) is such that \(\frac{n-4}{n-2}\pi<\theta<\frac{n-2}{n}\pi\), then \(C_{n}(\theta)\) is homeomorphic to \(S^{n-4}\). If \(n= 8\) and the bond angle \(\theta\) is such that \(\frac{5}{7}\pi<\theta<\frac{3}{4}\pi\), then \(C_{n}(\theta)\) is homeomorphic to \(S^{n-4}\). In this article, the authors generalize their previous results for all \( n\geq5\). More precisely it is proved that, for each integer \(n\geq5\), there exists \(\theta_{0}\) such that the configuration space \(C_{n}(\theta)\) is homeomorphic to \(S^{n-4}\) for every bond angle \(\theta\) with \(\theta_ {0}< \theta < \frac{n-2}{n}\pi\).