More bisections by hyperplane arrangements (Q2066302)

The article considers the problem of bisecting \(j\) measures in \(\mathbb{R}^d\) with \(k\) distinct affine hyperplanes. More precisely, the hyperplane arrangement consists of \(k\) distinct affine hyperplanes \(H_i = \{x \in \mathbb{R}^d \mid u_i(x)=a_i\}\) for some \(u_i \in (\mathbb{R}^d)^*\) and some \(a_i \in \mathbb{R}\). Let \(p(x_1, \dots, x_d)= \prod_{i=1}^k (u_i(x)-a_i)\) be the \textit{defining polynomial}, the arrangement \textit{bisects} the finite Borel measures \(\mu_1, \dots, \mu_j\) if \[ \mu_s(\{x \in \mathbb{R}^d \mid p(x)>0\}) = \mu_s(\{x \in \mathbb{R}^d \mid p(x)<0\}) \] for all \(s\leq j\). In other words, the authors ask if for every set of \(j\) measures there exists an hyperplane arrangement that divides \(\mathbb{R}^d\) into two parts of the same measure with respect all \(\mu_s\). In the case \(k=1\) and \(d\geq j\), the ham-sandwich theorem provides an affirmative answer. The case \(j=2^a k\) and \(d\geq 2^a\) for some \(a\in \mathbb{N}\) was solved affirmatively in [\textit{A. Hubard} and \textit{R. Karasev}, Math. Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. 169, No. 3, 639--647 (2020; Zbl 1498.52038)]. In this article, the authors give a different proof of the result by Hubard and Karasev and prove the case where \(k\) is odd, \(d=2^a+l\), and \(j=2^ak+l\) for some \(l< 2^a\). The techniques consist in reformulating the problem in terms of non-existence of certain equivariant maps \(S^{(d+1)k-1} \to S^{j+k-2}\) (a problem of Borsuk-Ulam type). Then, the authors provide an equivariant CW-structure on the sphere \(S^{(d+1)k-1}\) and finally, they apply the tom Dieck's equivariant obstruction theory.