Deviations of Ergodic sums for Toral Translations I : Convex bodies

Abstract

We show the existence of a limiting distribution $\cD_\cC$ of the adequately normalized discrepancy function of a random translation on a torus relative to a strictly convex set $\cC$. Using a correspondence between the small divisors in the Fourier series of the discrepancy function and lattices with short vectors, and mixing of diagonal flows on the space of lattices, we identify $\cD_\cC$ with the distribution of the level sets of a function defined on the product of the space of lattices with an infinite dimensional torus. We apply our results to counting lattice points in slanted cylinders and to time spent in a given ball by a random geodesic on the flat torus.