Structure of the unitary valuation algebra (Q2496588)

Let \(G\) be a compact subgroup of \(O(n)\) acting transitively on the unit sphere of \(n\)-dimensional Euclidean space \({\mathbb R}^n\). Let \(\mathbf{Val}^G\) denote the vector space of continuous valuations on the space of convex bodies of \({\mathbb R}^n\) which are invariant under translations and under \(G\). Alesker has shown that \(\mathbf{Val}^G\) has finite dimension. He has also introduced a multiplication for valuations. With it, \(\mathbf{Val}^G\) becomes a commutative graded algebra over \({\mathbb R}\). For \(G=SO(n)\), its structure can be derived from Hadwiger's characterization theorem for the intrinsic volumes. The present paper is devoted to the case \(G=U(n)\); the following is its main result. The graded \({\mathbb R}\)-algebra \(\mathbf{Val}^{U(n)}\) is isomorphic to \({\mathbb R}[s,t](f_{n+1},f_{n+2})\), where the generators \(s,t\) have degrees \(2\) and \(1\) respectively, and \(f_j\) is the component of weighted degree \(j\) of the power series \(\log(1+s+t)\). The author also discusses how this is related to integral geometry for the unitary group, and which open questions remain.