Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 June 2007
We study curves of fixed points for certain diffeomorphisms of ${\mathbb{R}}^3$ that are induced by automorphisms of a trace algebra. We classify these curves. There is a function $E$ which is invariant under all such trace maps and the level surfaces $E_t: E=t$ are invariant; a point of $E_t$ will be said to have level $t$. The surface $E_1$ is significant. Then most fixed points on $E_1$ are actually on a curve $\gamma$ of fixed points interior to $E_1$. We describe the possibilities for the other end of $\gamma$ on $E_1$.