Solution of the problem of combinatorial characterization of the dimension of the kernel of a starshaped set

It is proved for a nonempty proper subset S of a real topological linear space L that kerS ={convA_z: z bdryS} and for a close connected nonconvex subset S of L that kerS ={convA_z: z slncS}, where bdryS and slncS denote the sets of boundary points and strong local nonconvexity points of S, respectively, and A_z = {s S: z is clearly visible from s via S}.This extends previous results and, combined with standard techniques, yields among others two Krasnosel'skii-type characterizations for the dimension of kerS in R^d in case of a nonempty proper set S with bdryS bounded and a closed connected nonconvex set S with lncS bounded.The assumption of boundedness of S turns out to be irrelevant in these criteria.Herrn Professor Dr. Wilhelm Stoll gewidmetResearch partially supported by the grant PB 2 1140 91 01