Adelic geometry and polarity (Q423616)

The author generalizes \textit{transference} theorems from the classical geometry of numbers to the geometry of numbers over the ring of adeles of a number field. Given a \textit{convex body} and a lattice \(\Lambda\) in the \(m\)-dimensional Euclidean space \(\mathbb R^m\), the \textit{\(i\)-th successive minimum} \(\lambda_i(S,\Lambda)\) for \(1\leq i\leq m\) of \(S\) with respect to \(\Lambda\) is defined as \[ \lambda_i(S,\Lambda):=\inf\{\lambda>0\;|\;\lambda S\cap \Lambda\text{\;contains at least \textit{i} linearly independent elements}\}. \] With a convex body \(S\) and a lattice \(\Lambda\), one can associate the \textit{polar body} \[ S^*:= \{x\in \mathbb R^m\;|\;<x,y>\;\leq 1\;\;\forall y\in S\}, \] and the \textit{polar lattice} \(\Lambda^*:=\{x\in \mathbb R^m\;|\;<x,y>\;\in\mathbb Z\;\;\forall y\in\Lambda\},\) where \(<\cdot, \cdot>\) denotes the standard scalar product in \(\mathbb R^m\). The classical transference inequality, first investigated by Mahler is \[ 1\leq \lambda_i(S,\Lambda)\lambda_{m-i+1}(S^*,\Lambda^*)\leq m^{3/2}\text{\;for \;} 1\leq i\leq m. \] The theory of adelic geometry of numbers arises in the context of generalizations of \textit{Siegel's lemma}. Let \(K\) be an algebraic number field of degree \(d\) over \(\mathbb Q\), with field discriminant \(\Delta_K\). The author uses geometry of numbers for the module \(K_{\mathbb A}^n\) of rank \(n\) over the \textit{ring of adeles} \(K_{\mathbb A}\) of \(K\) whose definitions are recalled in the article. The author recalls also the definitions of \textit{adelic convex body} \(S\) and the \textit{adelic successive minima} \(\lambda_i(S)\) for \(1\leq i\leq n\), as introduced by \textit{E. Bombieri} and \textit{J. D. Vaaler} [``On Siegel's lemma'', Invent. Math. 73, 11--32 (1983); addendum ibid. 75, 377 (1984; Zbl 0533.10030)], and he introduces a new notion of \textit{polar adelic body}. The main results are: Let \(S\) be an adelic convex body, \(S^*\) its polar and let \(\lambda_i(S), \lambda_j(S^*) (1\leq i,j\leq n)\) be the successive minima of \(S\) and \(S^*\) respectively. Then, for \(1\leq \ell\leq n\), we have \[ \lambda_\ell(S)\lambda_{n-\ell+1}(S^*)\leq (nd)^{3/2}. \] Let \(K\) be totally real or a \(CM\)-field and let \(S\) be an adelic convex body, with the additional requirement that for all complex places \(v\) we have \(S_v=\alpha S_v \) for all \(\alpha\in\mathbb C\) with \(|\alpha|=1\). Let \(S^*\) be its polar and let \(\lambda_i(S), \lambda_j(S^*) (1\leq i,j \leq n)\) be the successive minima of \(S\) and \(S^*\) respectively. Then, for \(1\leq\ell\leq n\), we have \[ \frac{1}{\sqrt[d]{|\Delta_K|}}\leq \lambda_\ell(S)\lambda_{n-\ell+1}(S^*). \] See also, on generalizations of Siegel's lemma, Bombieri and Vaaler [Zbl 0533.10030], \textit{L. Fukshansy} [``Siegel's lemma with additional conditions'', J. Number Theory 120, No. 1, 13--25 (2006; Zbl 1192.11018); ``Algebraic points of small height missing a union of varieties'', J. Number Theory 130, No. 10, 2099--2118 (2010; Zbl 1282.11073)], \textit{É. Gaudron} [``Géometrie des nombres adélique et lemmes de Siegel généralisés'', Manuscr. Math. 130, No. 2, 159--182 (2009; Zbl 1231.11076)], \textit{É. Gaudron} and \textit{G. Rémond} [``Lemmes de Siegel d'évitement'', Acta Arith. 154, No. 2, 125--136 (2012; Zbl 1266.11080)], \textit{D. Roy} and \textit{J. L. Thunder} [``An absolute Siegel's lemma'', J. Reine Angew. Math. 476, 1--26 (1996; Zbl 0860.11036)] and \textit{J. L. Thunder} [``Remarks on adelic geometry of numbers'', Number theory for the millennium III. Proceedings of the millennial conference on number theory, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA, May 21--26, 2000. Natick, MA: A K Peters. 253--259 (2002; Zbl 1042.11044)].