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Gruber P. Convex and Discrete Geometry

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30 Packing of <strong>Convex</strong> Bodies 447<br />

Remark. The bound 1 2 (3d − 1) is attained if C = � α1b1 +···+αdbd :|αi| ≤ 1 �<br />

2<br />

where {b1,...,bd} is a basis of L, <strong>and</strong> Groemer [398] showed that this is the only<br />

case.<br />

Remark. A result of the author [419] says that for a typical convex body C (in<br />

the sense of Baire categories) for any lattice packing which (locally) has maximum<br />

density, the number of neighbours of C is at most 2d 2 . We think that this can still<br />

be improved <strong>and</strong> state the following conjecture, which is also in accordance with the<br />

next result.<br />

Conjecture 30.1. For a typical proper convex body C, for any lattice packing which<br />

has locally maximum density, the number of neighbours of C is precisely d(d + 1).<br />

Lower Estimate for the Number of Neighbours<br />

The following result of Swinnerton-Dyer [978] extends the corresponding estimate<br />

of Korkin <strong>and</strong> Zolotarev [609–611] for Euclidean balls, see Theorem 29.8. We<br />

present the particularly elegant proof of Swinnerton-Dyer.<br />

Theorem 30.3. Let C be a proper convex body <strong>and</strong> L a lattice in E d such that {C +l :<br />

l ∈ L} is a packing which has locally maximum density. Then C has at least d(d +1)<br />

neighbours.<br />

Proof. Again, it is sufficient to show that the lattice L which is locally critical for<br />

2D = C − C, has at least 1 2d(d + 1) pairs of points ±l on bd 2D.<br />

Assume that there are only n < 1 2d(d + 1) such pairs of points of L on bd 2D,<br />

say ±l j, j = 1,...,n. Consider supporting hyperplanes of 2D at these points <strong>and</strong><br />

denote their exterior normal unit vectors by ±u j . Determine a real d × d matrix<br />

A = (aik) different from the d × d zero matrix O by the conditions<br />

aik − aki = 0fori < k,<br />

l T j Au j = 0forj = 1,...,n.<br />

There is such a matrix A �= O since these conditions form a homogeneous system<br />

of n + 1 2 d(d − 1)

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