Mazur sets in normed spaces (Q701793)

This paper deals with the important question of describing Mazur sets in normed linear spces \(X\). We recall from [Adv. Math 183, No. 1, 183--208 (2004; Zbl 1082.46014)] that a closed and bounded convex set \(C\) is called a Mazur set if for every hyperplane \(H\) with dist\((C,H)>0\) there is a ball \(D\) such that \(C \subset D\) and \(D \cap H = \emptyset\). Any Mazur set is an intersection of closed balls. It should be noted that \textit{D. Chen} and \textit{B.-L. Lin} call an intersection of balls a Mazur set [Bull. Pol. Acad. Sci., Math. 43, No. 3, 191--198 (1995; Zbl 0836.46009)]. Mazur spaces are those for which any intersection of closed balls is a Mazur set. It is known that these concepts are closely related to the geometry of the dual unit ball, see the recent survey article [Extr. Math. 19, No. 1, 55--92 (2004; Zbl 1069.46007)]. A norm one functional \(f\) of the dual unit ball \(B^{\ast }\) is said to be a semi-denting point if for every \(\varepsilon >0\) , there is a weak\(^{\ast }\) slice \(S=\{g\in B^{\ast }:g(x)\geq 1-\delta \}\) (\(x\in X,\| x\| =1\)) such that \(\text{diam}(\{f\}\cup S)<\varepsilon \). \textit{D. Chen} and \textit{B.-L. Lin} [Bull. Polish Acad. sci. Math. 43, No. 3, 191--198 (1995; Zbl 0836.46009)] have proved that \(f\) is a semi-denting point if and only if the unit ball of \(\ker(f)\) is an intersection of closed balls. Using a characterization of weak\(^\ast\) denting points due to \textit{D. Chen} and \textit{B.-L. Lin} [Rocky Mt. J. Math. 28, No. 3, 835--873 (1998; Zbl 0932.46008)], the authors in the second section of the paper show that in the dual of a Mazur space, any semi-denting point is a weak\(^\ast\) denting point. It is not known if this is a characterization of Mazur spaces. The third section of the paper under review is devoted to exhibiting spaces with only trivial Mazur sets (i.e., points and balls). It is shown that for \( n \geq 3\), \(\ell^n_1\) has this property. Also, if \(X\) is a Banach space in which every Mazur set with nonempty interior is a ball, then again \(X\) has only trivial Mazur sets.