Universal optimality of the \(E_8\) and Leech lattices and interpolation formulas (Q2092827)

In this present work the authors prove a broad optimality theorem for the \(E_8\) and Leech lattices, via a new interpolation formula for radial Schwartz functions, thus demonstrating that these two lattices are universally optimal among point configurations in the respective Euclidean spaces of dimensions eight and twenty-four. Conceptually the distribution of a finite subset \(\mathcal C\subset \mathbb{R}^d\) can be assigned a potential energy via a given potential function \(p: (0;1) \rightarrow \mathbb{R}\), where the potential energy of \(\mathcal C\) is defined by \[ \mathop{\sum_{x,\, y\in \mathcal{C}}}_{x\neq y} p\left (|x-y|\right ), \] with \(|\cdot|\) the Euclidean norm. Theorem 1.4 states that the \(E_8\) root lattice and the Leech lattice are universally optimal in \(\mathbb{R}_8\) and \(\mathbb{R}_{24}\), respectively. Furthermore, they are unique among periodic configurations, in the following sense. Let \(\mathcal C\) be \(E_8\) or the Leech lattice, and let \(C^\prime\) be any periodic cofiguration in the same dimension with the same density. If there exists a completely monotonic function of squared distance \(p\) such that \(E_p(\mathcal{C}^\prime) = E_p(\mathcal C) < 1\), then \(\mathcal{C}^\prime\) is isometric to \(\mathcal{C}\). In other words, the lattices minimise energy for every potential function that is a completely monotonic function of squared distance (for example, inverse power laws or Gaussians), a strong form of robustness not previously known for any cofiguration in more than one dimension. This theorem also implies optimality for sphere packings.