A local maximizer for lattice width of 3-dimensional hollow bodies (Q2028093)

Consider a convex body \(K\) contained in the \(d\)-dimensional Euclidean space \(\mathbb{R}^d\) and a non-zero vector \(v\) in that space. The width of \(K\) along \(v\) is equal to \(\|v\|\) times the length of the orthogonal projection of \(K\) on a straight line spanned by \(v\). Then if \(\Lambda\) is a \(d\)-dimensional lattice contained in \(\mathbb{R}^d\) (for instance, \(\mathbb{Z}^d\)), the lattice width of \(K\) is the least possible width of \(K\) along the non-zero vectors in the dual lattice of \(\Lambda\). A convex body is hollow when its interior is disjoint from \(\Lambda\). The flatness theorem tells that the lattice width of any hollow convex body is bounded by a finite number that only depends on \(d\). This theorem and the largest possible lattice width \(f(d)\) of \(d\)-dimensional hollow convex bodies play an important role in integer programming as reported, for instance by \textit{R. Kannan} and \textit{L. Lovász} [Ann. Math. (2) 128, No. 3, 577--602 (1988; Zbl 0659.52004)]. It is known that \(f(1)=1\) and \textit{C. A. J. Hurkens} has shown that \(f(2)=1+2/\sqrt{3}\) [Linear Algebra Appl. 134, 121--128 (1990; Zbl 0708.52002)]. When \(d=3\), Giulia Codenotti and Francisco Santos have found a hollow tetrahedron \(\Delta\) whose lattice width is \(2+\sqrt{2}\) and they conjecture that \(f(3)\) is equal to this value [\textit{G. Codenotti} and \textit{F. Santos}, Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 148, No. 2, 835--850 (2020; Zbl 1445.52012)]. Here, it is shown that there exists an open set \(U\) in \(\mathbb{R}^3\) that contains \(\Delta\) and such that every hollow convex body contained in \(U\) has lattice width less than \(2+\sqrt{2}\). In other words, \(\Delta\) is a local minimum with respect to lattice width. The proof consists in parametrizing the space of the hollow tetrahedra obtained by perturbing \(\Delta\) and by using Karush-Kuhn-Tucker conditions to search for a local maximum in that space. Necessary conditions are also given for a \(3\)-dimensional hollow convex body to have lattice width greater than \(2+\sqrt{2}\).