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Gruber P. Convex and Discrete Geometry

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Packing <strong>and</strong> Central Symmetrization<br />

30 Packing of <strong>Convex</strong> Bodies 443<br />

Given a convex body C, its central symmetrization is the convex body<br />

D = 1<br />

(C − C)<br />

2<br />

�<br />

=<br />

�<br />

1<br />

(x − y) : x, y ∈ C<br />

2<br />

��<br />

.<br />

(The convex body 2D = C −C is called the difference body of C.) Minkowski [740]<br />

discovered that lattice packings of a convex body <strong>and</strong> its difference body are closely<br />

related. His proof yields the following, slightly more general result.<br />

Proposition 30.3. Let C be a proper convex body, D = 1 2 (C − C) its central symmetrization<br />

<strong>and</strong> T a discrete set in Ed . Then the following statements are equivalent:<br />

(i) {C + t : t ∈ T } is a packing.<br />

(ii) {D + t : t ∈ T } is a packing.<br />

Proof. It is sufficient to show the following equivalence:<br />

(3) Let s, t ∈ E d . Then<br />

We shall use the equalities<br />

(int C + s) ∩ (int C + t) �= ∅⇔(int D + s) ∩ (int D + t) �= ∅.<br />

(4) int D = 1<br />

(int C − int C),<br />

2<br />

(5) int C = 1<br />

(int C + int C).<br />

2<br />

Then<br />

(int C + s) ∩ (int C + t) �= ∅<br />

⇒ x + s = y + t for suitable x, y ∈ int C<br />

⇒ 1<br />

1<br />

(x − y) + s = (y − x) + t<br />

2 2<br />

⇒ (int D + s) ∩ (int D + t) �= ∅by (4)<br />

⇒ 1<br />

1<br />

(u − v) + s = (w − z) + t for suitable u,v,w,z ∈ int C by (4)<br />

2 2<br />

⇒ 1<br />

1<br />

(u + z) + s = (w + v) + t<br />

2 2<br />

⇒ (int C + s) ∩ (int C + t) �= ∅by (5),<br />

concluding the proof of (3) <strong>and</strong> thus of the proposition. ⊓⊔<br />

Remark. If L is a packing lattice of C or, equivalently, of D = 1 2 (C − C), the<br />

corresponding densities are<br />

δ(C, L) =<br />

V (C)<br />

d(L)<br />

<strong>and</strong> δ(D, L) = V (D)<br />

d(L) ,

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