On \(k\)-diametral point configurations in Minkowski spaces (Q2666592)

The authors consider point configurations of \(n\) not necessarily distinct points in \(\mathbb{R}^d\) having positive diameter in the Minkowski space \(\mathbb{M}^d_{\mathbf K_o}\) on \(\mathbb{R}^d\) with respect to a convex body \(\mathbf K_o\) symmetric to the origin. In particular, they are interested in the \(k\)-diametral number \(f_k(\mathbb{M}^d_{\mathbf K_o})\), the largest \(n\) for which there exists a \(k\)-diametral point configuration of \(n\) points in \(\mathbb{M}^d_{\mathbf K_o}\). When \(d,k\ge 2\) it is shown that \(f_2(\mathbb{M}^d_{\mathbf K_o}) \le \frac{1}{k-1}f_k(\mathbb{M}^d_{\mathbf K_o}) \le b((\mathbb{M}^d_{\mathbf K_o}) \le h(\mathbb{R}^d)\) where \(b((\mathbb{M}^d_{\mathbf K_o})\) is the Borsuk number of \(\mathbb{M}^d_{\mathbf K_o}\) and \(h(\mathbb{R}^d)\) the Hadwiger number of \(\mathbb{R}^d\). Upper bounds are known for \(h(\mathbb{R}^d)\). The authors obtain exact values for the \(k\)-diametral number in \(d\)-dimensional Minkowski space when \(d=2\le k\). In case of the Euclidean space \(\mathbb{E}^d\), exact values for \(f_k(\mathbb{E}^d)\) are obtained when \(d=2,3\), \(k\ge 3\) and lower and upper bounds for \(f_k(\mathbb{E}^d)\) when \(d\ge 4\), \(k\ge 3\). In a similar way \(k\)-antipodal point configurations in \(\mathbb{R}^d\) are introduced and the \(k\)-antipodal number \(F_k(d)\), the largest \(n\) for which there exists a \(k\)-antipodal point configuration of \(n\) points in \(\mathbb{R}^d\). The authors extend a connection between equilateral and antipodal sets in Minkowski space established by \textit{C. M. Petty} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 29, 369-374 (1971; Zbl 0214.20801)] to \(k\)-diametral and \(k\)-antipodal point configurations. A point configuration \(X\) in \(\mathbb{R}^d\) is \(k\)-antipodal where \(d,k\ge 2\) if and only if there exists a symmetric convex body in \(\mathbb{R}^d\) such that \(X\) is \(k\)-diametral in \(\mathbb{M}^d_{\mathbf K_o}\). It follows that \(F_k(d)\) is the maximum of all \(f_k(\mathbb{M}^d_{\mathbf K_o})\) where \(\mathbf K_o\) ranges over all symmetric convex bodies in \(\mathbb{R}^d\). Furthermore, if \(d,k\ge 2\), then \(f_k(\mathbb{M}^d_{\mathbf K_o})\le (k-1)2^d\) and equality holds if and only if \(\mathbf K_o\) is an affine \(d\)-cube. When all points in the \(k\)-diametral or \(k\)-antipodal point configuration are distinct analogous numbers \(g_k(\mathbb{M}^d_{\mathbf K_o})\) (corresponding to \(f_k(\mathbb{M}^d_{\mathbf K_o})\)) and \(G_k(d)\) (corresponding to \(F_k(d)\)) are defined and various identities, characterizations or inequalities between these numbers and the cardinality of corresponding \(k\)-diametral or \(k\)-antipodal point sets are given. Proofs are a combination of convexity methods, volumetric estimates and combinatorial properties of diameter graphs.