Helly-type theorems for line transversals to disjoint unit balls (Q2482201)

A family \(\mathcal{F}\) of balls in \(\mathbb{R}^d\) is called pairwise-inflatable if for every pair of balls \(B_1, B_2\in \mathcal{F}\), \(\gamma ^2> 2(r_1^2+r_2^2)\), where \(r_i\) is the radius of \(B_i\) and \(\gamma\) is the distance between their centers. An order-respecting line transversal to a subset of an ordered family is a line transversal that respects the order induced by the family on that subset. An ordered family \(\mathcal{F}\) of pairwise-inflatable balls is said to have property \((OR)T\) if it admits a (order-respecting) line transversal. If every \(k\) or fewer members of \(\mathcal{F}\) admit a (order-respecting) line transversal then \(\mathcal{F}\) is said t have property \((OR)T(k)\). The authors prove that for any ordered family of pairwise-inflatable balls in \(\mathbb{R}^d\), \(ORT(2d)\) implies \(T\) and \(ORT(2d+1)\) implies \(ORT\). It is easy to see that a family of disjoint unit balls is pairwise-inflatable. Finally, the authors show that for a family of disjoint unit balls in \(\mathbb{R}^d\), \(T(4d-1)\)implies \(T\).