On the gap of finite metric spaces of \(p\)-negative type (Q665948)

A metric space \((X,d)\) is said to have \textit{\(p\)-negative type}, where \(p\geq 0\), if (and only if) for all natural numbers \(k\geq 2\), all finite subsets \(\{x_1,\dots, x_k\}\subset X\), and all choices of real numbers \(\alpha_1,\dots,\alpha_k\) satisfying \(\alpha_1+\dots+\alpha_k=0\) the inequality \(\sum_{1\leq i,j\leq k} d(x_i , x_j)^p\alpha_i\alpha_j\leq 0\) holds. \textit{I. Doust} and \textit{A. Weston} [J. Funct. Anal. 254, No. 9, 2336--2364 (2008); corrigendum ibid. 255, No. 2, 532--533 (2008; Zbl 1148.46012)] defined the \textit{\(p\)-negative type gap} \(\Gamma\) of a \(p\)-negative type metric space \((X,d)\) as the largest nonnegative constant satisfying \[ \frac{\Gamma}2\left(\sum_{i=1}^k|\alpha_i|\right)^2+\sum_{1\leq i,j\leq k} d(x_i , x_j)^p\alpha_i\alpha_j\leq 0 \] for all natural numbers \(k\), all \(x_1,\dots,x_k\in X\), and all real numbers \(\alpha_1,\dots,\alpha_k\) with \(\alpha_1+\dots+\alpha_k=0\). The author finds some formulas for the \(p\)-negative type gap. He uses them to compute the \(p\)-negative type gap for some metric spaces, for example for cycles with their graph distances.