A generalized localization theorem and geometric inequalities for convex bodies

In this article, we generalize a localization theorem of Lovász and Simonovits [Random walks in a convex body and an improved volume algorithm, Random Struct. Algorithms 4-4 (1993) 359-412] which is an important tool to prove dimension-free functional inequalities for log-concave measures. In a previous paper [Fradelizi and Guédon, The extreme points of subsets of s-concave probabilities and a geometric localization theorem, Discrete Comput. Geom. 31 (2004) 327-335], we proved that the localization may be deduced from a suitable application of Krein-Milman's theorem to a subset of log-concave probabilities satisfying one linear constraint and from the determination of the extreme points of its convex hull. Here, we generalize this result to more constraints, give some necessary conditions satisfied by such extreme points and explain how it may be understood as a generalized localization theorem. Finally, using this new localization theorem, we solve an open question on the comparison of the volume of sections of non-symmetric convex bodies in Rⁿ by hyperplanes. A surprising feature of the result is that the extremal case in this geometric inequality is reached by an unusual convex set that we manage to identify.     

On a convex operator for finite sets

Let S be a finite set with m elements in a real linear space and let J_S be a set of m intervals in R. We introduce a convex operator co(S,J_S) which generalizes the familiar concepts of the convex hull, , and the affine hull, , of S. We prove that each homothet of that is contained in can be obtained using this operator. A variety of convex subsets of with interesting combinatorial properties can also be obtained. For example, this operator can assign a regular dodecagon to the 4-element set consisting of the vertices and the orthocenter of an equilateral triangle. For two types of families J_S we give two different upper bounds for the number of vertices of the polytopes produced as co(S,J_S). Our motivation comes from a recent improvement of the well-known Gauss-Lucas theorem. It turns out that a particular convex set co(S,J_S) plays a central role in this improvement.     

On the structure of singular sets of convex functions

Whenf is a convex function ofR ^h, andk is an integer with 0<k, then the set ^k (f)=x:dim(f(x)k may be covered by countably many manifolds of dimensionh–k and classC ² except an _h–k negligible subset.The author is supported by INdAM     

Moment inequalities and central limit properties of isotropic convex bodies

The object of our investigations are isotropic convex bodies , centred at the origin and normed to volume one, in arbitrary dimensions. We show that a certain subset of these bodies – specified by bounds on the second and fourth moments – is invariant under forming ‘expanded joinsrsquo;. Considering a body K as above as a probability space and taking , we define random variables on K. It is known that for subclasses of isotropic convex bodies satisfying a ‘concentration of mass property’, the distributions of these random variables are close to Gaussian distributions, for high dimensions n and ‘most’ directions . We show that this ‘central limit property’, which is known to hold with respect to convergence in law, is also true with respect to -convergence and -convergence of the corresponding densities. Received: 21 March 2001 / in final form: 17 October 2001 / Published online: 4 April 2002     

Brunn-Minkowski inequalities for variational functionals and related problems

Recently, several inequalities of Brunn-Minkowski type have been proved for well-known functionals in the Calculus of Variations, e.g. the first eigenvalue of the Laplacian, the Newton capacity, the torsional rigidity and generalizations of these examples. In this paper, we add new contributions to this topic: in particular, we establish equality conditions in the case of the first eigenvalue of the Laplacian and of the torsional rigidity, and we prove a Brunn-Minkowski inequality for another class of variational functionals. Moreover, we describe the links between Brunn-Minkowski type inequalities and the resolution of Minkowski type problems.     

Isoperimetric deficit and convex plane sets of maximum translative discrepancy

The paper deals with the following question: Among the convex plane sets of fixed isoperimetric deficit, which are the sets of maximum translative deviation from the circular shape? The answer is given for the cases in which the deviation is measured either by the translative Hausdorff metric or by the translative symmetric difference metric.     

A class of bounds for convex bodies in Hilbert space

We extend to infinite dimensions a class of bounds forL _p metrics of finite-dimensional convex bodies. A generalization to arbitrary increasing convex functions is done simultaneously. The main tool is the use of Gaussian measure to effect a normalization for varying dimension. At a point in the proof we also invoke a strong law of large numbers for random sets to produce a rotational averaging.Supported in part by ONR Grant N0014-90-J-1641 and NSF Grant DMS-9002665.     

Characterizations of ultrabarrelledness and barrelledness involving the singularities of families of convex mappings

Summary The paper reveals that ultrabarrelled spaces (respectively barrelled spaces) can be characterized by means of the density of the so-called weak singularities of families consisting of continuous convex mappings that are defined on an open absolutely convex set and take values in a locally full ordered topological linear space (respectively locally full ordered locally convex space). The idea to establish such characterizations arose from the observation that, in virtue of well-known results, the density of the singularities of families of continuous linear mappings allows to characterize both the ultrabarrelled spaces and the barrelled spaces.     

On the volume of convex hulls of sets on spheres

We prove that for a measurable subset of S ^n–1 with fixed Haar measure, the volume of its convex hull is minimized for a cap (i.e. a ball with respect to the geodesic measure). We solve a similar problem for symmetric sets and n=2, 3. As a consequence, we deduce a result concerning Gaussian measures of dilatations of convex, symmetric sets in R ² and R ³.Partially supported by KBN (Poland), Grant No. 2 1094 91 01.     

The first variation of the total mass of log-concave functions and related inequalities

On the class of log-concave functions on Rⁿ${\mathbb{R}}^n$, endowed with a suitable algebraic structure, we study the first variation of the total mass functional, which corresponds to the volume of convex bodies when restricted to the subclass of characteristic functions. We prove some integral representation formulae for such a first variation, which suggest to define in a natural way the notion of area measure for a log-concave function. In the same framework, we obtain a functional counterpart of Minkowski’s first inequality for convex bodies; as corollaries, we derive a functional form of the isoperimetric inequality, and a family of logarithmic-type Sobolev inequalities with respect to log-concave probability measures. Finally, we propose a suitable functional version of the classical Minkowski’s problem for convex bodies, and prove some partial results towards its solution.     

The dual Brunn-Minkowski theory for bounded Borel sets: Dual affine quermassintegrals and inequalities

This paper develops a significant extension of E. Lutwak's dual Brunn-Minkowski theory, originally applicable only to star-shaped sets, to the class of bounded Borel sets. The focus is on expressions and inequalities involving chord-power integrals, random simplex integrals, and dual affine quermassintegrals. New inequalities obtained include those of isoperimetric and Brunn-Minkowski type. A new generalization of the well-known Busemann intersection inequality is also proved. Particular attention is given to precise equality conditions, which require results stating that a bounded Borel set, almost all of whose sections of a fixed dimension are essentially convex, is itself essentially convex.     

Cone-separation and star-shaped separability with applications

Let X$X$ be a (real) Banach space, A$A$ be a subset of X$X$ and x∉A$x\notin A$. We present cone-separation in terms of separation by a collection of linear functionals defined on X$X$ and obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for cone-separability A$A$ and x$x$. Also, we give characterizations for star-shaped separability. Finally, as an application of separability, we characterize best approximation problem by elements of star-shaped sets.     

On pairs of vectors achieving the maximal angle of a convex cone

In this paper we explore the concept of antipodality relative to a closed convex cone . The problem under consideration is that of finding a pair of unit vectors in K achieving the maximal angle of the cone. We mention also a few words on the attainability of critical angles. By way of application of the general theory, we briefly discuss the problem of estimating the radius of pointedness of a cone.     

The maximal monotonicity of the subdifferentials of convex functions: Simons' problem

In the paper we deal with the problem when the graph of the subdifferential operator of a convex lower semicontinuous function has a common point with the product of two convex nonempty weak and weak^* compact sets, i.e. when graph (Q × Q ^*) 0. The results obtained partially solve the problem posed by Simons as well as generalize the Rockafellar Maximal Monotonicity Theorem.     

On the second differentiability of convex surfaces

Properties of pointwise second differentiability of real-valued convex functions in ⁿ are studied. Some proofs of the Busemann-Feller-Aleksandrov theorem are reviewed and a new proof of this theorem is presented.     

Existence of solutions for nonlinear inequalities in locally convex separated space

An existence result for abstract nonlinear inequalities. As a consequence of our result, we obtain some further generalizations of recent known results. According to this result, we show the existence of g-saddle point and Aumann strong equilibrium for a constrained noncooperative game.     

Positions of convex bodies associated to extremal problems and isotropic measures

We show that there are close relations between extremal problems in dual Brunn-Minkowski theory and isotropic-type properties for some Borel measures on the sphere. The methods we use allow us to obtain similar results in the context of Firey-Brunn-Minkowski theory. We also study reverse inequalities for dual mixed volumes which are related with classical positions, such as ?-position or isotropic position.     

Mean square inequalities for chords of convex sets

This paper is concerned with establishing lower bounds for the integrals of the square of the lengths of area and perimeter bisecting chords of planar convex sets. The results obtained provide verification of two recent conjectures of Lutwak. When combined with the known upper bounds for these integrals they yield the classical isoperimetric inequality. The main proof technique involves estimation of the winding numbers of the locus of the midpoints of the chords concerned.