A Poncelet theorem for lines

Abstract

Our aim is to prove a Poncelet type theorem for a line configuration on the complex projective. More precisely, we say that a polygon with 2n sides joining 2n vertices A1, A2,..., A2n is well inscribed in a configuration Ln of n lines if each line of the configuration contains exactly two points among A1, A2, ..., A2n. Then we prove : "Let Ln be a configuration of n lines and D a smooth conic in the complex projective plane. If it exists one polygon with 2n sides well inscribed in Ln and circumscribed around D then there are infinitely many such polygons. In particular a general point in Ln is a vertex of such a polygon." We propose an elementary proof based on Fr\'egier's involution. We begin by recalling some facts about these involutions. Then we explore the following question : When does the product of involutions correspond to an involution? It leads to Pascal theorem, to its dual version proved by Brianchon, and to its generalization proved by M\"obius.