Determining starshaped sets and unions of starshaped sets by their sections

Let S be a compact set in R^d. Let p be a fixed point of S and let k be a fixed integer, 1 k <d. Then S is starshaped with p ker S if and only if for every k-dimensional flat F through p, F S is starshaped. Moreover, an analogue of this result holds for unions of starshaped sets as well.     

The dimension of the kernel in finite and infinite intersections of starshaped sets

Summary. We establish the following Helly-type result for infinite families of starshaped sets in Define the function f on {1, 2} by f(1) = 4, f(2) = 3. Let be a fixed positive number, and let be a uniformly bounded family of compact sets in the plane. For k = 1, 2, if every f(k) (not necessarily distinct) members of intersect in a starshaped set whose kernel contains a k-dimensional neighborhood of radius , then is a starshaped set whose kernel is at least k-dimensional. The number f(k) is best in each case. In addition, we present a few results concerning the dimension of the kernel in an intersection of starshaped sets in Some of these involve finite families of sets, while others involve infinite families and make use of the Hausdorff metric.     

The dimension of the kernel in an intersection of starshaped sets

We establish the following Helly-type theorem: Let ${\cal K}$ be a family of compact sets in $\mathbb{R}^d$. If every d + 1 (not necessarily distinct) members of ${\cal K}$ intersect in a starshaped set whose kernel contains a translate of set A, then $\cap \{ K : K\; \hbox{in}\; {\cal K} \}$ also is a starshaped set whose kernel contains a translate of A. An analogous result holds when ${\cal K}$ is a finite family of closed sets in $\mathbb{R}^d$. Moreover, we have the following planar result: Define function f on $\{0, 1, 2\}$ by f(0) = f(2) = 3, f(1) = 4. Let ${\cal K}$ be a finite family of closed sets in the plane. For k = 0, 1, 2, if every f(k) (not necessarily distinct) members of ${\cal K}$ intersect in a starshaped set whose kernel has dimension at least k, then $\cap \{K : K\; \hbox{in}\; {\cal K}\}$ also is a starshaped set whose kernel has dimension at least k. The number f(k) is best in each case.Received: 4 June 2002     

Points of local nonconvexity,clear visibility,and starshaped sets in Rd

Let S be a compact, connected, locally starshaped set in R^d, S not convex. For every point of local nonconvexity q of S, define A_q to be the subset of S from which q is clearly visible via S. Then ker S = {conv A_q: q lnc S}. Furthermore, if every d+1 points of local nonconvexity of S are clearly visible from a common d-dimensional subset of S, then dim ker S = d.     

Some Krasnosel'skii numbers for finitely starlike sets in the plane

Let S be a subset of the plane. In case (int cl S) S = , then S is finitely starlike if and only if every 4 points of S see via S a common point. In case (int cl S) S has at most countably many components, each a singleton set, then S is finitely starlike if and only if every 5 points of S see via S a common point. Each of the numbers 4 and 5 is best possible. Examples show that these results fail without suitable restrictions on (int cl S) S. Moreover, a final example shows that if a general Krasnosel'skii number . exists to characterize finitely starlike sets in the plane, then > 9.     

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.     

Unions of three starshaped sets in R2

LetS be a compact, simply connected set inR ². If every boundary point ofS is clearly visible viaS from at least one of the three pointsa, b, c, thenS is a union of three starshaped sets whose kernels containa, b, c, respectively. The result fails when the number three is replaced by four.As a partial converse, ifS is a union of three starshaped sets whose kernels containa, b, c, respectively, then the set of points in the boundary ofS clearly visible from at least one ofa, b, orc is dense in the boundary ofS.Supported in part by NSF grant DMS-8705336.     

A Helly-type theorem for countable intersections of starshaped sets

Let k and d be fixed integers, 0kd, and let be a collection of sets in If every countable subfamily of has a starshaped intersection, then is (nonempty and) starshaped as well. Moreover, if every countable subfamily of has as its intersection a starshaped set whose kernel is at least k-dimensional, then the kernel of is at least k-dimensional, too. Finally, dual statements hold for unions of sets.Received: 3 April 2004     

A Helly theorem for intersections of orthogonally starshaped sets

Let $\cal{F}$ be a finite family of simply connected orthogonal polygons in the plane. If every three (not necessarily distinct) members of $\cal{F}$ have a nonempty intersection which is starshaped via staircase paths, then the intersection $\cap \{F : F\; \hbox{in}\; \cal{F}\}$ is a (nonempty) simply connected orthogonal polygon which is starshaped via staircase paths. Moreover, the number three is best possible, even with the additional requirement that the intersection in question be nonempty. The result fails without the simple connectedness condition.     

Characterizing compact unions of two starshaped sets inR d

SetS inR ^d has propertyK ₂ if and only ifS is a finite union ofd-polytopes and for every finite setF in bdryS there exist points c₁,c₂ (depending onF) such that each point ofF is clearly visible viaS from at least one c_i,i = 1,2. The following characterization theorem is established: Let , d2. SetS is a compact union of two starshaped sets if and only if there is a sequence {S _j } converging toS (relative to the Hausdorff metric) such that each setS _j satisfies propertyK ₂. For , the sufficiency of the condition above still holds, although the necessity fails.     

Simply connected orthogonal polygons as unions of two orthogonally starshaped sets

Let S be a simply connected orthogonal polygon in the plane. The set S is a union of two sets which are starshaped via staircase paths (i.e., orthogonally starshaped) if and only if for every three points of S, at least two of these points see (via staircase paths) a common point of S. Moreover, the simple connectedness condition cannot be deleted.     

Points of local nonconvexity and sets which are almost starshaped

Let Sø be a bounded connected set in R ², and assume that every 3 or fewer lnc points of S are clearly visible from a common point of S. Then for some point p in S, the set A{s : s in S and [p, s] S} is nowhere dense in S. Furthermore, when S is open, then S in starshaped.     

Unions of orthogonally convex or orthogonally starshaped polygons

LetT be a simply connected orthogonal polygon having the property that for every three points ofT, at least two of these points see each other via staircases inT. ThenT is a union of three orthogonally convex polygons. The number three is best possible.ForT a simply connected orthogonal polygon,T is a union of two orthogonally convex polygons if and only if for every sequencev ₁,...,v _n,v _n+1 =v ₁ inT, n odd, at least one consecutive pairv _i ,v _i+1 sees each other via staircase paths inT, 1 i n. An analogous result says thatT is a union of two orthogonal polygons which are starshaped via staircase paths if and only if for every odd sequence inT, at least one consecutive pair sees a common point via staircases inT.Supported in part by NSF grants DMS-8908717 and DMS-9207019.     

Families of planar sets having starlike union

Let be a finite family of compact sets in the plane, and letk be a fixed natural number. If every three (not necessarily distinct) members of have a union which is simply connected and starshaped viak-paths, then and is starshaped viak-paths. Analogous results hold for paths of length at most , > 0, and for staircase paths, although not for staircasek-paths.Supported in part by NSF grant DMS-9504249     

Ambiguous loci of the metric projection onto compact starshaped sets in a Banach space

LetE be a real Banach space andL(E) the family of all nonempty compact starshaped subsets ofE. Under the Hausdorff distance,L(E) is a complete metric space. The elements of the complement of a first Baire category subset ofL(E) are called typical elements ofL(E). ForXL(E) we denote by the metrical projection ontoX, i.e. the mapping which associates to eachaE the set of all points inX closest toa. In this note we prove that, ifE is strictly convex and separable with dimE2, then for a typicalXL(E) the map is not single valued at a dense set of points. Moreover, we show that a typical element ofL(E) has kernel consisting of one point and set of directions dense in the unit sphere ofE.     

Finitely starlike sets whose F-stars have positive measure

Let and assume that there is a countable collection of lines {L _i : 1 i} such that (int cl S) and ((int cl S) S) L _i has one-dimensional Lebesgue measure zero, 1 i. Then every 4 point subset ofS sees viaS a set of positive two-dimensional Lebesgue measure if and only if every finite subset ofS sees viaS such a set. Furthermore, a parallel result holds with two-dimensional replaced by one-dimensional. Finally, setS is finitely starlike if and only if every 5 points ofS see viaS a common point. In each case, the number 4 or 5 is best possible.Supported in part by NSF grant DMS-8705336.