On isoperimetric inequalities. Edited and with a preface by Alessio Figalli (Q2862347)

This is a work done by students of l'École Polytechnique under the direction of Alessio Figalli. It is a nice introduction to some aspects of the wide subject of isoperimetric inequalities.NEWLINENEWLINEIn Chapter 1, using variational formulas for length and area, it is proved that an isoperimetric boundary in the plane has constant geodesic curvature and so it is a circle. A second proof, using classical calculus of variations, is also given.NEWLINENEWLINESteiner's symmetrization, for the Minkowski content, is introduced in Chapter 2, and used to extend the planar isoperimetric inequality to higher dimensional Euclidean spaces. A version of the Brunn-Minkowski inequality, \(|D_\varepsilon|\leq |K_\varepsilon|\), (\(K\) is a compact set, \(K_\varepsilon\) is the tubular neighborhood of radius \(\varepsilon\) of \(K\), \(|K|\) is the volume of \(K\), and \(D\) is a ball with \(|D|=|K|\)) is also proved. Faber-Krahn's inequality is obtained as a consequence of the isoperimetric inequality.NEWLINENEWLINEApplications of variational theory to determine the shape of extremals are discussed in Chapter 3.NEWLINENEWLINEOptimal transport as a tool to prove isoperimetric inequalities is considered in Chapter 4. The existence of Brenier's map, as well as Prékopa-Leindler's inequality, are obtained.NEWLINENEWLINEIsoperimetric inequalities in groups and graphs are considered in Chapter 5, following [\textit{T. Coulhon} and \textit{L. Saloff-Coste}, Rev. Mat. Iberoam. 9, No. 2, 293--314 (1993; Zbl 0782.53066)] for the most part.NEWLINENEWLINEThe isoperimetric inequality in a Riemannian surface, involving its Gauss curvature, is presented in Chapter 6 following the first chapter of [\textit{Yu. D. Burago} and \textit{V. A. Zalgaller}, Geometric inequalities. Transl. from the Russian by A. B. Sossinsky. Grundlehren der Mathematischen Wissenschaften, 285. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. (1988; Zbl 0633.53002)].NEWLINENEWLINEConclusions are presented in Chapter 7.