Billiards and Teichmüller curves on Hilbert modular surfaces

McMullen, Curtis

doi:10.1090/S0894-0347-03-00432-6

Billiards and Teichmüller curves on Hilbert modular surfaces
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J. Amer. Math. Soc. 16 (2003), 857-885 Request permission

Abstract:

This paper exhibits an infinite collection of algebraic curves isometrically embedded in the moduli space of Riemann surfaces of genus two. These Teichmüller curves lie on Hilbert modular surfaces parameterizing Abelian varieties with real multiplication. Explicit examples, constructed from L-shaped polygons, give billiard tables with optimal dynamical properties.

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