Isoradial bodies (Q1764159)

Let \(C\) be a \(d\)-dimensional convex body and let \(j \in \{1,\dots,d\}\). The symbol \(R_j(C)\) stands for the minimum of the circumradii of the projections of \(C\) on all \(j\)-dimensional subspaces, and the symbol \(r_j(C)\) stands for the radius of the largest \(j\)-dimensional ball that fits into \(C\). If \(r_d(C) = \dots = r_2(C) \leq r_1(C) = R_1(C) \leq R_2(C) = \dots = R_d(C)\), then \(C\) is called strongly isoradial. The main result of this paper states that for every \(d \geq 2\) there exist strongly isoradial \(d\)-dimensional convex bodies different from balls. The construction of such bodies is based on an idea of packing pairs of opposite spherical caps on a sphere such that every great \(2\)-circle meets the relative interior of at least one such a pair. This kind of packing is a modification of a similar packing considered by \textit{R. Brandenberg} and \textit{D. Larman} [Beitr. Algebra Geom. 44, No. 2, 531--538 (1963; Zbl 1039.52006)].