Ryan Kirk | Searcharxiv

arXiv2021

Piecewise circular curves and positivity

We introduce the moduli space of generic piecewise circular $n$-gons in the Riemann sphere and relate it to a moduli space of Legendrian polygons. We prove that when $n=2k$, this moduli space contains a connected component homeomorphic to the Fock-Goncharov space of $k$-tuples of positive flags for $\mathsf{PSp}(4,\mathbb{R})$ and hence is a topological ball. We characterize this component geometrically as the space of simple piecewise circular curves with decreasing curvature.

math.DG↗

arXiv2013

Continuity properties of vectors realizing points in the classical field of values

For an $n$-by-$n$ matrix $A$, let $f_A$ be its "field of values generating function" defined as $f_A\colon x\mapsto x^*Ax$. We consider two natural versions of the continuity, which we call strong and weak, of $f_A^{-1}$ (which is of course multi-valued) on the field of values $F(A)$. The strong continuity holds, in particular, on the interior of $F(A)$, and at such points $z \in \partial F(A)$ which are either corner points, belong to the relative interior of flat portions of $\partial F(A)$, or whose preimage under $f_A$ is contained in a one-dimensional set. Consequently, $f_A^{-1}$ is continuous in this sense on the whole $F(A)$ for all normal, 2-by-2, and unitarily irreducible 3-by-3 matrices. Nevertheless, we show by example that the strong continuity of $f_A^{-1}$ fails at certain points of $\partial F(A)$ for some (unitarily reducible) 3-by-3 and (unitarily irreducible) 4-by-4 matrices. The weak continuity, in its turn, fails for some unitarily reducible 4-by-4 and untiarily irreducible 6-by-6 matrices.

math.FA↗