The Orlicz-Brunn-Minkowski theory: a general framework, additions, and inequalities (Q2509573)

This paper is devoted to develop in a comprehensive way an Orlicz-Brunn-Minkowski theory introduced originally by Lutwak, Yang and Zhang. The authors define a new way of combining sets in \(\mathbb{R}^n\) depending on a convex function. For the particular case of two compact convex sets \(K,L\) containing the origin, and a convex function \(\varphi: [0,\infty)^2 \longrightarrow [0,\infty)\), increasing in each variable and satisfying \(\varphi(0,0)=0\) and \(\varphi(1,0)=\varphi(0,1)=1\), the Orlicz addition, denoted by \(+_{\varphi}\), is defined implicitly by \[ \varphi\left(\frac{h_K(x)}{h_{K+_{\varphi}L}(x)},\frac{h_L(x)}{h_{K+_{\varphi}L}(x)}\right)=1, \] where \(h_K\) and \(h_L\) are the support functions of \(K\) and \(L\), respectively, and \(x\) is such that \(h_K(x)+h_L(x)>0\). If \(h_K(x)=h_L(x)=0\), \(h_{K+_{\varphi}L}(x)=0\). Such an operation was missing in this theory and its introduction constitutes a fundamental step in its development. The authors show that \(+_{\varphi}\) enjoys continuity in the Haussdorff metric, \(GL(n)\) covariance and preserves origin symmetry of sets; however it turns out not to be associative unless it reduces to \(L_p\)-addition. Using previous results of the authors contained in the indispensable work [\textit{R. J. Gardner} et al., J. Eur. Math. Soc. (JEMS) 15, No. 6, 2297--2352 (2013; Zbl 1282.52006)], they obtain that for \(1\)-unconditional sets, the Orlicz addition happens to be essentially a fundamental generalization of Minkowski addition: the so-called \(M\)-addition. This new operation \(+_{\varphi}\), allows the authors to provide a general framework for the Orlicz-Brunn-Minkowski theory where both, the Orlicz addition and already known concepts, fit naturally. In this way, the Orlicz-Brunn-Minkowski theory can be addressed (a posteriori) as its relatives, the Brunn-Minkowski theory and the \(L_p\)-Brunn-Minkowski theory, arising from the combination of volume and an addition between sets. Two further major contributions of the authors in this work are the clarification of the connection with Orlicz spaces and norms, and the establishment of new inequalities in the framework of Orlicz-Brunn-Minkowski theory, in particular, for arbitrary sets in \(\mathbb{R}^n\). The latter can be seen as an Orlicz extension of the very recent and highly non trivial extension of \(L_p\) addition to arbitrary sets contained in [\textit{E. Lutwak} et al., Adv. Appl. Math. 48, No. 2, 407--413 (2012; Zbl 1252.52006)]. According to the authors, it is shown that ``the Orlicz-Brunn-Minkowski theory is the most general possible based on an addition that retains all the basic geometrical properties enjoyed by the \(L_p\)-Brunn-Minkowski theory''.