Local rigidity for periodic generalised interval exchange transformations

Abstract

In this article we study local rigidity properties of generalised interval exchange maps using renormalisation methods. We study the dynamics of the renormalisation operator $$\mathcal {R}$$ acting on the space of $$\mathcal {C}^{3}$$ -generalised interval exchange transformations at fixed points (which are standard periodic type IETs). We show that $$\mathcal {R}$$ is hyperbolic and that the number of unstable direction is exactly that predicted by the ergodic theory of IETs and the work of Forni and Marmi–Moussa–Yoccoz. As a consequence we prove that the local $$\mathcal {C}^1$$ -conjugacy class of a periodic interval exchange transformation, with d intervals, whose associated surface has genus g and whose Lyapounoff exponents are all non zero is a codimension $$g-1 +d-1$$ $$\mathcal {C}^1$$ -submanifold of the space of $$\mathcal {C}^{3}$$ -generalised interval exchange transformations. This solves a conjecture analogous to that of Marmi–Moussa–Yoccoz, stated for almost all IETs, in the special case of self-similar IETs.