The configuration space of regular spherical even polygons (Q2292324)

Consider an \(n\)-tupel \(r=(r_1,\ldots,r_n)\) with each \(r_i\in (0,\pi)\). The moduli space \(M_r\) of closed polygonal linkages in \(S^2\) with side lengths given by \(r\) can be thought of as configurations \((u_1,\ldots,u_n)\in (S^2)^n\) such that the spherical distance between \(u_i\) and \(u_{i+1}\) is \(r_i\) (with \(u_{n+1}=u_1\)), up to rotations. For \(n\geq 4\) even and \(r=(a,\ldots,a)\) it is easy to see that \(M_n(a) = M_r\) is not a manifold, and for sufficiently small \(a\) one gets the same space as if we would look at configurations in the Euclidean plane. The main result of this article computes the Euler characteristic of \(M_n(a)\). For small \(a\) one gets the same result as in the Euclidean plane, but new critical points can arise when \(a\) is such that there exist configurations going around a great circle, making the Euler characteristic depend on \(a\).