Rectangle exchange transformations

Abstract

We define rectangle exchange transformations analogously to interval exchange transformations. An interval exchange transformation is a mapping of the unit interval onto itself obtained by cutting the interval up into a finite number of subintervals and rearranging the pieces. A rectangle exchange transformation is a mapping of the unit square onto itself obtained by cutting the square up into a finite number of rectangular pieces and rearranging the pieces. We give a minimality condition for rectangle exchange transformations. We deal with various examples of ergodic rectangle exchange transformations. Related questions are discussed.