Polynomial Ergodic Averages Along Short Intervals

We study pointwise convergence of polynomial ergodic averages over short intervals whose left endpoints tend to infinity. For a polynomial orbit of degree $d\geq2$ and doubly lacunary starting times, we prove $L^p$ variational estimates, and hence almost-everywhere convergence, for $1<p<\infty$ in the range $c>(d-1)/d$. This gives the first pointwise ergodic theorem for polynomial orbits along short intervals. We also show that the endpoint $L^1$ fails along every infinite subsequence. In a different direction, we prove that substantially denser sequences of starting times exhibit the strong sweeping-out property.