The status of the Kepler conjecture (Q1345650)

The title of this paper refers to the conjecture that the density of any packing of equal spheres in Euclidean 3-space does not exceed \(\pi/ \sqrt {18}\). This density is attained by a packing of spheres whose centres are the points of a face-centred cubic lattice. In 1990, W.-Y. Hsiang announced that he has proved this conjecture. Subsequently, he issued some versions of preprints and finally an extensive paper on the subject [\textit{W. Y. Hsiang}, Int. J. Math. 4, No. 5, 739--831 (1993; Zbl 0844.52017)]. This induced the author to write the article under review ``to correct the public record''. He states that Hsiang attempted to carry out a programme proposed by L. Fejes Tóth to solve the problem and offered a strategy to prove Fejes Tóth's fundamental inequality [\textit{L. Fejes Tóth}, `Lagerungen in der Ebene, auf der Kugel und im Raum.' 2. verb. und erw. Aufl. Berlin (1972; Zbl 0229.52009)]. Hsiang's work gives evidence that a proof will be difficult, but not impossible. However, the author raises substantial objections against the methods of proof employed by Hsiang: This paper relies extensively on what he calls ``critical case analysis''. This involves a general assertion, which is claimed to be true although only a few special cases are treated and no justification is given for the reduction to these ``critical cases''. Phrases such as ``a straightforward computation will show'' or ``it is easy to see'' are used quite frequently without any indication of the method of proof. A further criticism regards an unexplained process called ``size-decreasing deformation''. As the author points out, there are also some errors in the calculations. In view of these gaps and deficiencies, the author comes to the conclusion that, for all intents and purposes, Hsiang's (or Fejes Tóth's) programme is yet to be carried out. Thus the Kepler conjecture remains a conjecture, for the time being, and has not become a theorem.