Diffusion for chaotic plane sections of 3-periodic surfaces (Q730186)

A surface in \(\mathbb{R}^3\) is said to be triply periodic if it is invariant under translation by vectors in \(\mathbb{Z}^3\). \textit{S. P. Novikov} [Russ. Math. Surv. 37, No. 5, 1--56 (1982; Zbl 0571.58011); translation from Usp. Mat. Nauk 37, No. 5(227), 3--49 (1982)] posed questions about the asymptotic behaviour of sections of such surfaces made by planes in relation to physical problems. The sections usually contain either only closed components or have the property that each unbounded component has a finitely deformed straight line and hence an asymptotic direction. \textit{I. A. Dynnikov} [in: Solitons, geometry, and topology: on the crossroad. Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society. 45--73 (1997; Zbl 0923.58043)] showed that it is possible for the section to not have an asymptotic direction but instead to wander around the plane, and this \textit{chaotic} case is studied here for the family of surfaces of genus \(3\) with foliations on them with 2 double saddles. The unresolved aspects of Novikov's questions mainly reside in this chaotic case. Estimates are found for the diffusion rate for these sections using a connection between Novikov's setting and the dynamics of certain systems of isometries that naturally generalize interval exchanges. By using the thermodynamic formalism for these systems an invariant measure is constructed in the case called the Rauzy gasket, and the Lyapunov spectrum of the corresponding suspension flow is studied.