Recognizing sets by means of some of their sections

Convex sets in (n) dimensions (including convex hypersurfaces) (52A20) Homology of classifying spaces and characteristic classes in algebraic topology (55R40)

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Let \(K\) be a compact subset of \(\mathbb{R}^{n+k}\) and \(X\) a collection of \(n\)-dimensional hyperplanes of \(\mathbb{R}^{n+k}\) \((n>1)\) with the property that for each \(H\in K\), \(H\cap K\) is convex. The author shows that the condition \(i^*(\omega^ 2)\neq 0\) is sufficient to insure that \(K\) itself is convex. Here \(i\) is the inclusion map of \(X\) into the space of all \(n\) dimensional hyperplanes of \(\mathbb{R}^{n+k}\) and \(\omega\) is the \(k\)th Stiefel-Whitney class of the vector bundle over this space of orthogonal \(k\)-dimensional hyperplanes through the origin. Similar cohomological conditions on \(X\) are established that insure that \(K\) is a solid sphere or a space of constant width if \(H\cap K\) has this property for each \(H\in X\). The proofs make use of the explicit description of the homology and cohomology of Grassmannian manifolds using Schubert cycles and cocycles (as described in chapter 6 of [\textit{J. W. Milnor} and \textit{J. D. Stasheff}, Characteristic classes, Ann. Math. Studies, No. 76 (1974; Zbl 0298.57008)], for example) and typically proceed by showing that the condition on \(X\) is strong enough to insure that any line in \(\mathbb{R}^{n+k}\) is contained in \(H\) for some \(H\in X\).

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