Intersections of sets starshaped via paths of bounded length (Q1404214)

A set \(S\) in the plane is starshaped via \(\alpha \)-paths if there exists a point \(p\in S\) \ which can be connected to every point \(x\in S\) by a curve in \(S\) whose length is at most \(\alpha \). The author proves that for any closed, and simply connected planar set \(S\) the intersection of all maximal subsets of \(S\) which are starshaped via \(\alpha \)-paths is either empty or starshaped via \(\alpha \)-paths. This result extends previous results on intersections of sets starshaped via segments, or via staircase paths. It is also shown that no Helly-type theorems hold for intersections of sets starshaped via \(\alpha \)-paths, in contrast with segment and staircase visibility results.