SL\((n)\) covariant function-valued valuations (Q2217526)

Let \(\mathcal{P}_o^n\) denote the space of polytopes in \(\mathbb{R}^n\) that contain the origin. A map \(Z\), defined on \(\mathcal{P}_o^n\) and taking values in an Abelian semigroup \(\langle \mathcal{A},+\rangle\), is called a valuation if \[ZP+ZQ=Z(P\cup Q)+Z(P\cap Q)\] whenever \(P,Q\in\mathcal{P}_o^n\) are such that also \(P\cup Q\in\mathcal{P}_o^n\). In this article, the author studies and classifies \(\operatorname{SL}(n)\) covariant valuations which take values on \(F(\mathbb{R}^n\backslash\{0\})\), the space of real-valued functions on \(\mathbb{R}^n\backslash\{0\}\). Here, a map \(Z:\mathcal{P}_o^n\to F(\mathbb{R}^n\backslash\{0\})\) is said to be \(\operatorname{SL}(n)\) covariant if \[Z(\phi P)(x)=ZP(\phi^t x)\] for every \(P\in\mathcal{P}_o^n\), \(\phi\in\operatorname{SL}(n)\) and \(x\in\mathbb{R}^n\backslash\{0\}\), where \(\phi^t\) is the transpose of \(\phi\). The author shows that for \(n\geq 3\), a map \(Z:\mathcal{P}_o^n\to F(\mathbb{R}^n\backslash\{0\})\) is a continuous and \(\operatorname{SL}(n)\) covariant valuation if and only if there exist a continuous function \(\zeta:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}\) and a signed, continuous Radon measure \(\mu\) on \(\mathbb{R}\) such that \[ZP(x)=\zeta(h_P(x))+\zeta(-h_{-P}(x))+\frac{1}{|x|}\int_{\mathbb{R}} V_{n-1}(P\cap H_{x,t}) \,\mathrm{d} \mu(t)\] for every \(P\in\mathcal{P}_o^n\) and \(x\in\mathbb{R}^n\backslash\{0\}\). Here, \(h_P(x):=\max_{y\in P} \{x\cdot y\}\) denotes the support function of \(P\) and \(H_{x,t}:=\{y\in\mathbb{R}^n\colon x\cdot y = t\}\) for \(x\in\mathbb{R}^n\backslash\{0\}\) and \(t\in\mathbb{R}\). The last term that appears in this classification result is of particular interest, since it generalizes the support function of the \(L_p\) moment body. Further valuations, which are related to Euler-type relations of support functions, appear if continuity is relaxed to a notion of regularity. Moreover, classifications of valuations which are \(\operatorname{GL}_+(n)\) covariant of weight \(0\) are given. In addition, extensions of the main results to the whole spaces of convex polytopes and convex bodies are presented. Among the many consequences of these results are also new proofs for some Euler-type relations. The findings of the author also generalize some known classification results for real-valued valuations on convex bodies as well as Minkowski valuations. Many of these corollaries are stated and explained in Section 11, where characterizations of classical operators such as the Euler characteristic, volume and (polar) \(L_p\) moment body can be found, among others.