On configuration spaces of plane polygons, sub-Riemannian geometry and periodic orbits of outer billiards

Abstract

Following a recent paper by Baryshnikov and Zharnitsky, we consider outer billiards in the plane possessing invariant curves consisting of periodic orbits. We prove the existence and abundance of such tables using tools from sub-Riemannian geometry. We also prove that the set of 3-periodic outer billiard orbits has empty interior.