The Busemann-Petty problem for arbitrary measures (Q1772096): Difference between revisions

The author considers the following problem BPGM, extending the celebrated Busemann-Petty problem to general measures. Let \(f_n,f_{n-1}\) be non-negative even functions on \({\mathbb R}^n\), where \(f_n\) is locally integrable and \(f_{n-1}\) is locally integrable on each \(\xi^{\perp}\), \(\xi\in S^{n-1}\); let \(\mu_n(B) := \int_B f_n\,\text{d} x\) for bounded Borel sets \(B\subset {\mathbb R}^n\), and let \(\mu_{n-1}(B) := \int_B f_{n-1}\,\text{d} x\) for bounded Borel sets \(B\subset \xi^{\perp}\), \(\xi\in S^{n-1}\). For \(n\geq 2\), let \(K,L \subset {\mathbb R}^n\) be origin-symmetric convex bodies such that \(\mu_{n-1}(K\cap \xi^{\perp})\leq \mu_{n-1}(L\cap \xi^{\perp})\) for every \(\xi\in S^{n-1}\). Then BPGM asks whether \(\mu_n(K)\leq \mu_n(L)\). It is proved that, in the case where \(f_n=f_{n-1}\) and both functions are continuous, the answer is affirmative for \(n\leq 4\), and if \(f_{n-1}\) is positive and twice differentiable on \({\mathbb R}^n\setminus\{0\}\), then the answer is negative for \(n\geq 5\). The case \(f_n=f_{n-1}=1\) is the known solution of the classical Busemann-Petty problem. The result follows from a more general one for symmetric star bodies, where the functions \(f_n\) and \(f_{n-1}\) may be different. The author provides a condition on \(\| \cdot\| _K, f_n,f_{n-1}\) in terms of Fourier transforms which implies a positive answer to BPGM for any symmetric star body \(L\). Also the conditions for a negative answer are generalized.