Abstract
Let $x$ and $y$ be points in a billiard table $M=M(\sigma)$ in$\mathbb{\mathbb{R}}^{2}$ that is bounded by a curve $\sigma$. Weassume $\sigma\in\Sigma_{r}$ with $r\geq2$, where $\Sigma_{r}$is the set of simple closed $C^{r}$ curves in $\mathbb{R}^{2}$ withpositive curvature. A subset $B$ of $M\setminus\{x,y\}$ is calleda blocking set for the pair $(x,y)$ if every billiard pathin $M$ from $x$ to $y$ passes through a point in $B$. If a finiteblocking set exists, the pair $(x,y)$ is called secure in$M;$ if not, it is called insecure. We show that for $\sigma$in a dense $G_{\delta}$ subset of $\Sigma_{r}$ with the $C^{r}$topology, there exists a dense $G_{\delta}$ subset $\mathcal{\mathcal{R}=R}(\sigma)$of $M(\sigma)\times M(\sigma)$ such that $(x,y)$ is insecure in$M(\sigma)$ for each $(x,y)\in\mathcal{R}$. In this sense, for thegeneric Birkhoff billiard, the generic pair of interior points isinsecure. This is related to a theorem of S. Tabachnikov [24]that $(x,y)$ is insecure for all sufficiently close points$x$ and $y$ on a strictly convex arc on the boundary of a smoothtable.
Highlights
Consider a compact plane region M = M (σ) (“table”) bounded by a simple closed curve σ
A billiard is the dynamical system consisting of this table and a point mass that moves within the table at unit speed along line segments whose endpoints are on the boundary
Ho [14] for related results.) Even though the result for Birkhoff billiards in the present paper is analogous to the result for Riemannian manifolds in [6], the techniques are quite different, because Riemannian metrics can be modified anywhere within the manifold, while our modifications can only change the boundary of the table, not the geometry within the table
Summary
Tabachnikov [20], who showed that for every compact billiard table M bounded by a smooth curve, in particular a Birkhoff billiard, if x and y are sufficiently close distinct points on a strictly convex arc of ∂M, (x, y) is insecure. We show that there exists a residual subset Ar,(x,y) of Σr,(x,y) such that for every billiard table bounded by a curve in Ar,(x,y) the pair (x, y) is insecure. (See Theorem 6.3.) For Birkhoff billiards we should allow boundary curves of nonnegative curvature, but for our result we may assume positive curvature, since Σr is an open dense subset of the set of simple closed Cr curves of nonnegative curvature with the Cr topology. Our result shows that for the generic Birkhoff billiard, the generic pair of interior points is insecure. Ho [14] for related results.) Even though the result for Birkhoff billiards in the present paper is analogous to the result for Riemannian manifolds in [6], the techniques are quite different, because Riemannian metrics can be modified anywhere within the manifold, while our modifications can only change the boundary of the table, not the geometry within the table
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