The cross-section body, plane sections of convex bodies and approximation of convex bodies, I

For a convex body K ^d we investigate three associated bodies, its intersection body IK (for 0int K), cross-section body CK, and projection body IIK, which satisfy IKCKIIK. Conversely we prove CKconst₁(d)I(K–x) for some xint K, and IIKconst₂ (d)CK, for certain constants, the first constant being sharp. We estimate the maximal k-volume of sections of 1/2(K+(-K)) with k-planes parallel to a fixed k-plane by the analogous quantity for K; our inequality is, if only k is fixed, sharp. For L ^d a convex body, we take n random segments in L, and consider their Minkowski average D. We prove that, for V(L) fixed, the supremum of V(D) (with also nN arbitrary) is minimal for L an ellipsoid. This result implies the Petty projection inequality about max V((IIM)*), for M ^d a convex body, with V(M) fixed. We compare the volumes of projections of convex bodies and the volumes of the projections of their sections, and, dually, the volumes of sections of convex bodies and the volumes of sections of their circumscribed cylinders. For fixed n, the pth moments of V(D) (1p<) also are minimized, for V(L) fixed, by the ellipsoids. For k=2, the supremum (nN arbitrary) and the pth moment (n fixed) of V(D) are maximized for example by triangles, and, for L centrally symmetric, for example by parallelograms. Last we discuss some examples for cross-section bodies.Research (partially) supported by Hungarian National Foundation for Scientific Research, Grant No. 41.     

Staircase kernels for orthogonald-polytopes

LetS be a finite union of boxes inR ^d . Forx inS, defineA _x ={yx is clearly visible fromy via staircase paths inS}, and let KerS denote the staircase kernel ofS. Then KerS={A _x x is a point of local nonconvexity ofS}. A similar result holds with clearly visible replaced by visible and points of local nonconvexity ofS replaced by boundary points ofS.Supported in part by NSF grant DMS-9207019.     

Reconstructing dimensions of intersections of convex sets

Denoting by dimA the dimension of the affine hull of the setA, we prove that if {K _i:i T} and {K _i ^j :i T} are two finite families of convex sets inR ⁿ and if dim {K _i :i S} = dim {K _i ^j :i S}for eachS T such that|S| n + 1 then dim {K _i :i T} = dim {K _i : {i T}}.     

Variations on the theme of repeated distances

We give an asymptotically sharp estimate for the error term of the maximum number of unit distances determined byn points in ^{d, d}4. We also give asymptotically tight upper bounds on the total number of occurrences of the favourite distances fromn points in ^{d, d}4. Related results are proved for distances determined byn disjoint compact convex sets in ².At the time this paper was written, both authors were visiting the Technion — Israel Institute of Technology.     

A sandwich theorem and Hyers—Ulam stability of affine functions

It is shown that two real functionsf andg, defined on a real intervalI, satisfy the inequalitiesf(x + (1 – )y) g(x) + (1 – )g(y) andg(x + (1 – )y) f(x) + (1 – )f(y) for allx, y I and [0, 1], iff there exists an affine functionh: I such thatf h g. As a consequence we obtain a stability result of Hyers—Ulam type for affine functions.     

A solution of Hadwiger's covering problem for zonoids

For a convex body M ⁿ byb(M) the least integerp is denoted, such that there are bodiesM ₁, ...,M _p each of which is homothetic toM with a positive ratiok<1 andM ₁...M _p M. H. Martini has proved [7] thatb(M)<-3·2 ^n–2 for every zonotope M ⁿ , which is not a parallelotope.In the paper this Martini's result is extended to zonoids. In the proof some notions and facts of real functions theory are used (points of density, approximative continuity).     

A variational principle for eigenvalues of pencils of Hermitian matrices

LetH=(A, B) be a pair of HermitianN×N matrices. A complex number is an eigenvalue ofH ifdet(A–B)=0 (we include = ifdetB=0). For nonsingularH (i.e., for which some is not an eigenvalue), we show precisely which eigenvalues can be characterized as _k ⁺ =sup{inf{*A:*B=1,S},SS _k},S _k being the set of subspaces of C ^N of codimensionk–1.Dedicated to the memory of our friend and colleague Branko NajmanResearch supported by NSERC of Canada and the I.W.Killam FoundationProfessor Najman died suddenly while this work was at its final stage. His research was supported by the Ministry of Science of CroatiaResearch supported by NSERC of Canada     

Fundamental equation of information revisited

Summary This paper presents a new, shorter and more direct proof of the following result of J. Aczél and C. T. Ng: IfM: J R (J =]0, 1[ ^k ) is both multiplicative and additive, then the general solution: J R of(x) + M(1 – x)(y/1 – x) = (y) + M(1 – y)(x/1 – y) (x, y, x + y J) is given by(x) = ifM = 0,(x) = M(x)[L(x) + ] + M(1 – x)L(1 – x) ifM 0,where is an arbitrary constant andL: J R is an arbitrary solution of the logarithmic functional equationL(xy) = L(x) + L(y) (x, y J). Also, some extensions of this result to fields more general than the reals are given.     

Jordan axioms for C*-algebras

A complex Banach spaceA which is also an associative algebra provided with a conjugate linear vector space involution * satisfying (a ²)^*=(a ^*)², aa ^* a=a³ and ab+ba2ab for alla, b inA is shown to be a C^*-algebra. The assumptions onA can be expressed in terms of the Jordan algebra obtained by symmetrization of the product ofA and are satisfied by any C^*-algebra. Thus we obtain a purely Jordan characterization of C^*-algebras.     

Krasnosel'skii numbers for bounded finitely starlike sets inR d

For eachk andd, 1kd, definef(d, d)=d+1 andf(d, k)=2d if 1kd–1. The following results are established:Let be a uniformly bounded collection of compact, convex sets inR ^d . For a fixedk, 1kd, dim {MM in }k if and only if for some > 0, everyf(d, k) members of contain a commonk-dimensional set of measure (volume) at least.LetS be a bounded subset ofR ^d . Assume that for some fixedk, 1kd, there exists a countable family of (k–l)-flats {H _i :i1} inR ^d such that clS S {H_i i 1 } and for eachi1, (clS S) H _i has (k–1) dimensional measure zero. Every finite subset ofS sees viaS a set of positivek-dimensional measure if and only if for some>0, everyf(d,k) points ofS see viaS a set ofk-dimensional measure at least .The numbers off(d,d) andf(d, 1) above are best possible.Supported in part by NSF grant DMS-8705336.     

The Spectral Theory of Amenable Actions and Invariants of Discrete Groups

Let G denote a semisimple group, a discrete subgroup, B=G/P the Poisson boundary. Regarding invariants of discrete subgroups we prove, in particular, the following:(1) For any -quasi-invariant measure on B, and any probablity measure on , the norm of the operator () on L ²(B,) is equal to (), where is the unitary representation in L ²(X,), and is the regular representation of .(2) In particular this estimate holds when is Lebesgue measure on B, a Patterson–Sullivan measure, or a -stationary measure, and implies explicit lower bounds for the displacement and Margulis number of (w.r.t. a finite generating set), the dimension of the conformal density, the -entropy of the measure, and Lyapunov exponents of .(3) In particular, when G=PSL₂() and is free, the new lower bound of the displacement is somewhat smaller than the Culler–Shalen bound (which requires an additional assumption) and is greater than the standard ball-packing bound.We also prove that ()=_G() for any amenable action of G and L ¹(G), and conversely, give a spectral criterion for amenability of an action of G under certain natural dynamical conditions. In addition, we establish a uniform lower bound for the -entropy of any measure quasi-invariant under the action of a group with property T, and use this fact to construct an interesting class of actions of such groups, related to 'virtual' maximal parabolic subgroups. Most of the results hold in fact in greater generality, and apply for instance when G is any semi-simple algebraic group, or when is any word-hyperbolic group, acting on their Poisson boundary, for example.     

On the best estimate for perimeters of plane sets with the angle property

We investigate the problem of finding the maximum length of perimeters of plane sets with fixed diameter d, such that every point of the boundary of the set is a vertex of an open angle of opening which does not intersect the set. First we consider plane curves which satisfy such angle property in a finite number of directions, and among them we find the one of maximum length. Then we prove that the perimeter of any plane set with the angle property is less than or equal to d(sin /2)^-2; this is the best estimate when /2.     

Algebraic systems of quadratic forms of number fields and function fields

In this paper we examine for which Witt classes ,..., _n over a number field or a function fieldF there exist a finite extensionL/F and ₂,..., _n L^* such thatT _L/F ()=1 andTr _L/F (_i)=_i fori=2,...n.     

Sur certaines algèbres associées à une mesure de Guelfand

Let be a Guelfand measure (cf. [A, B]) on a locally compact groupG DenoteL ₁ (G)=*L ₁(G)* the commutative Banach algebra associated to . We show thatL ₁ (G) is semi-simple and give a characterization of the closed ideals ofL ₁ (G). Using the -spherical Fourier transform, we characterize all linear bounded operators inL ₁ (G) which are invariants by -translations (i.e. such that ¹(( _x f) )=( _x ((f)) for eachxG andfL ₁ (G); where _x f(y)=f(xy); x,y G). WhenG is compact, we study the algebraL ₁ (G) and obtain results analogous to ones obtained for the commutative case: we show thatL ₁ (G) is regular, all closed sets of its Guelfand spectrum are sets of synthesis and establish theorems of harmonic synthesis for functions inL _p (G) (p=1,2 or +).

     

Randomly Weighted Sums of Subexponential Random Variables with Application to Ruin Theory

Let {X _k , 1 k n} be n independent and real-valued random variables with common subexponential distribution function, and let {k, 1 k n} be other n random variables independent of {X _k , 1 k n} and satisfying a _k b for some 0 < a b < for all 1 k n. This paper proves that the asymptotic relations P (max_{1 m n k=1} ^m _k X _k > x) P (sum _k=1 ⁿ _k X _k > x) sum _k=1 ⁿ P ( _k X _k > x) hold as x . In doing so, no any assumption is made on the dependence structure of the sequence { _k , 1 k n}. An application to ruin theory is proposed.     

ℒ2 sets which are almost starshaped

Let S be a subset of R ^d . The set S is said to be an set if and only if for every two points x and y of S, there exists some z S such that [x, z] [z, y] S. Clearly every starshaped set is an set, yet the converse is false and introduces an interesting question: Under what conditions will an set S be almost starshaped; that is, when will there exist a convex subset C of S such that every point of S sees some point of C via SThis paper provides one answer to the question above, and we have the following result: Let S be a closed planar set, S simply connected, and assume that the set Q of points of local nonconvexity of S is finite. If some point p of S see each member of Q via S, then there is a convex subset C of S such that every point of S sees some point of C via S.     

The caratheodory number for thek-core

Thek-core of the setS ⁿ is the intersection of the convex hull of all setsA S with ¦SA¦<-k. The Caratheodory number of thek-core is the smallest integerf (d,k) with the property thatx core _{kS, S} ⁿ implies the existence of a subsetT S such thatx core_kT and ¦T¦f (d, k). In this paper various properties off(d, k) are established.Research of this author was partially supported by Hungarian National Science Foundation grant no. 1812.     

The Natural Operators Lifting 1-Forms to r-Jet Prolongation of the Tangent Bundle

We prove that for n-manifolds (n 3) the set of all natural operators T^* T^*(J^rT) is a free [2(r + 1)² + 1]-dimensional module over C (R^r+1). We construct explicitly the basis of the C (R^r+1)-module.     

Approximation under an arc length constraint

Let f C[a, b]. LetP be a subset ofC[a, b], L b – a be a given real number. We say thatp P is a best approximation tof fromP, with arc length constraintL, ifA[p] _b ^a [1 + (p(x)) ²]dx L andp – f q – f for allq P withA[q] L. represents an arbitrary norm onC[a, b]. The constraintA[p] L might be interpreted physically as a materials constraint.In this paper we consider the questions of existence, uniqueness and characterization of constrained best approximations. In addition a bound, independent of degree, is found for the arc length of a best unconstrained Chebyshev polynomial approximation.The work of L. L. Keener is supported by the National Research Council of Canada Grant A8755.     

Small potential corrections for the discrete eigenvalues of the Sturm-Liouville problem

Summary The inverse Sturm-Liouville problem is the problem of finding a good approximation of a potential functionq such that the eigenvalue problem (^*)–y +qy=y holds on (0, ) fory(0)=y()=0 and a set of given eigenvalues . Since this problem has to be solved numerically by discretization and since the higher discrete eigenvalues strongly deviate from the corresponding Sturm-Liouville eigenvalues , asymptotic corrections for the 's serve to get better estimates forq. Let _k (1kn) be the first eigenvalues of (^*), let _k be the corresponding discrete eigenvalues obtained by the finite element method for (^*) and let _{k k} for the special caseq=0. Then, starting from an asymptotic correction technique proposed by Paine, de Hoog and Anderssen, new estimates for the errors of the corrected discrete eigenvalues are obtained and confirm and improve the knownO(kh ²)(h:=/(n+1)) behaviour. The estimates are based on new Sobolev inequalities and on Fourier analysis and it is shown that for 4+c ₂ k(n+1)/2, wherec ₁ andc ₂ are constants depending onq which tend to 0 for vanishingq.