Swap action on moduli spaces of polygonal linkages (Q2439409)

A polygonal \(n\)-linkage in \({\mathbb R}^ 2\) or \({\mathbb R}^ 3\) consists of \(n\) straight links with fixed lengths and revolutionary joins at the endpoints. The authors define an action on the set of all linkages by swapping neighbouring links. This action preserves the signed area function in \({\mathbb R}^ 2\) resp. the vector area function in \({\mathbb R}^ 3\). The authors show that the group induced on linkages of fixed lengths is abelian and make a conjecture on its structure.