Distortion in groups of affine interval exchange transformations (Q2327659)

The group of all affine interval exchange transformations is denoted by \(\mathcal{A}\). The main theorem reads as follows: Theorem. For every distorted element \(f\) of \(\mathcal{A}\), there exists a positive integer \(k\) such that \(f^k\) is conjugate by an element of \(\mathcal{A}\) to a product of infinite order restricted rotations, with pairwise disjoint supports. In Section 2, the authors define affine interval exchange transformations, break points, PL-homeomorphisms, restricted rotations, the Higman-Thompson's group and distortion element in a group. In Sections 3 and 4, it is shown that every element in \(\mathcal{A}\) with semi-hyperbolic periodic orbits is undistorted, and if \(f\) is an undistorted element in \(\mathcal{A}\), then the number of break points of \(f^n\) is bounded. Section 5 is devoted to the proof of an extended version of the ``alternate version of Li's theorem'', given in [\textit{C. F. Novak}, J. Mod. Dyn. 3, No. 3, 379--405 (2009; Zbl 1183.37077)]. Section 6 and 7 deal with remarks and results on a theorem by \textit{H. Minakawa} [Hokkaido Math. J. 26, No. 3, 685--697 (1997; Zbl 0896.57024)] concerning functions in \(\mathcal{A}\) without semi-hyperbolic periodic orbit and with bounded number break points of \(f^n\).