Hyperplane mass partitions via relative equivariant obstruction theory (Q321878)

In this paper the authors approach the Grünbaum-Hadwiger-Ramos Hyperplane Mass Partition problem: what are the ``admissible'' triples \((d,j,k)\) such that for any \(j\) masses in \(\mathbb R^d\) there are \(k\) hyperplanes that cut each of the masses into \(2^k\) equal parts. By the \textit{join scheme}, introduced in [\textit{P. V. M. Blagojević} et al., J. Topol. 8, No. 2, 414--456 (2015; Zbl 1329.55019)], one can see that non-existence of a certain \(G\)-equivariant map \((S^d)^{*k}\to S(W_k\oplus U_k^{\oplus j})\) that extends a test map on the subspace \(X\) of \((S^d)^{*k}\) where \(G\) (hyperoctahedral group) acts non-freely, implies that \((d,j,k)\) is admissible. Roughly speaking, \((S^d)^{*k}\) parametrizes all positions of \(k\) hyperplanes and \(S(W_k\oplus U_k^{\oplus j})\) is the sphere in the space parametrizing all results of partitions. Impossibility to extend our \(G\)-equivariant map means that the image of \((S^d)^{*k}\) necessarily contains \(0\), i.e. equiparts the masses. Key points in the proofs are the following: \((S^d)^{*k}\) gets a cell decomposition, good with respect to measures on a modified moment curve, and the question is reduced to the relative \(G\)-equivariant obstruction theory, due to [\textit{T. tom Dieck}, Transformation groups. Berlin - New York: Walter de Gruyter (1987; Zbl 0611.57002)], because on the cells of small dimension, all such maps are homotopically the same, so to compute \(X\) we can consider the case of masses on a modified moment curve. The way how hyperplanes can equipart an interval on a moment curve naturally leads to Gray codes. In this way, a rigorous and unified proof of several previously announced cases of the Grünbaum-Hadwiger-Ramos Hyperplane Mass Partition problem is given, as well as of a few new cases. For additional reading, see also the survey by the authors [``Topology of the Grünbaum-Hadwiger-Ramos hyperplane mass partition problem'', Preprint, \url{arXiv:1502.02975}].