The limit integral torsion of closed analytic curves (Q650401)

Given a closed space curve \(\alpha\) and a plane \(\Pi\), the projection of \(\alpha\) onto \(\Pi\) is a plane curve \(\beta\). Between \(\alpha\) and its projection \(\beta\) there is a family of closed space curves \(\alpha_{\lambda}\) defined by linear interpolation and depending on a parameter \(\lambda\in[0,1]\). This family is called the compression of the curve \(\alpha\) onto the plane \(\Pi\). Let \(\tau_{\text{int}}(\lambda)\) be the integral or total torsion of the curve \(\alpha_\lambda\). It is proven that the limit of \(\tau_{\text{int}}(\lambda)\) for \(\lambda\to 0+\) is a multiple of \(\pi\) if \(\alpha\) is a closed analytic curve under compression to any plane. The central curve of the Möbius strip as defined in [\textit{G. Schwarz}, Pac. J. Math. 143, No.~1, 195--200 (1990; Zbl 0723.57014)] is used to show that any multiple of \(\pi\) can be represented as the limit integral torsion of some curve under the compression to some plane.