Minkowski areas and valuations (Q531755)

Let \({\mathcal K}^n\) denote the space of convex bodies in \({\mathbb R}^n\), equipped with the Minkowski addition, and \({\mathcal K}_0^n\) the subspace of bodies containing the origin in the interior. A \textit{Minkowski valuation} on \({\mathcal K}_0^n\) is a mapping \(Z:{\mathcal K}_0^n\to{\mathcal K}^n\) that satisfies \(Z(K\cup L)+Z(K\cap L)=Z(K)+Z(L)\) whenever \(K,L,K\cup L\in {\mathcal K}_0^n\). The mapping \(Z\) is called \(\text{GL}(n)\) \textit{covariant} if \(Z(\phi K) =|\det\phi|^q\phi ZK\) for \(K\in{\mathcal K}_0^n\) and \(\phi\in\text{GL}(n)\), for some \(q\in{\mathbb R}\). Examples of \(\text{GL}(n)\) covariant valuations are the trivial one (linear combination of identity and reflection in the origin), the moment body map \(M\), defined by its support function \(h(MK,u)=\int_K|u\cdot x|\,d x\), the mapping \(K\mapsto \{m(K)\}\), \(m(K)= \int_K x\,dx\), and the operator \(K\mapsto \Pi K^*\), where \(\Pi\) is the projection body operator and \(K^*\) is the polar body of \(K\). The main result of this work says that a continuous, \(\text{GL}(n)\) covariant and nontrivial Minkowski valuation \(Z:{\mathcal K}_0^n\to{\mathcal K}^n\) (\(n\geq 3\)) must either be of the form \( ZK= c_0 MK+ c_1 m(K)\) with constants \(c_0\geq 0\) and \(c_1\in{\mathbb R}\), or of the form \( ZK= c_0\Pi K^*\) with a constant \(c_0\geq 0\). As an application, the author obtains a characterization of the Holmes-Thompson area among all invariant areas in an \(n\)-dimensional Minkowski space (with a not necessarily symmetric norm). Here, invariant areas are considered as functions on \({\mathcal K}^n\times{\mathcal K}^n_0\) (where the elements of \({\mathcal K}^n_0\) play the role of the unit balls of norms), satisfying a natural set of conditions. The Holmes-Thompson area turns out to be the (up to a factor) unique invariant area that is a valuation in each of its arguments.