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Gruber P. Convex and Discrete Geometry

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32 Tiling with <strong>Convex</strong> Polytopes 463<br />

Theorem 31.6. Let C be a proper o-symmetric convex disc in E 2 . Then ϑT (C) =<br />

ϑL(C).<br />

Remark. It has been conjectured that the equality in this theorem holds for all convex<br />

discs. A corresponding result in E 2 for coverings with congruent copies of a<br />

centrally symmetric convex disc has been conjectured but, so far, this was proved<br />

only under additional restrictions, see Fejes Tóth [323]. For a typical convex (not<br />

necessarily centrally symmetric) disc C the thinnest covering with congruent copies<br />

has density smaller than θL(C), as shown by Fejes Tóth <strong>and</strong> Zamfirescu [326].<br />

A Conjecture of Zassenhaus on Thinnest Coverings in E d<br />

Considering the packing case in Sect. 30.4, it is clear what is meant by a periodic<br />

covering with a convex body C. Zassenhaus [1042] stated a conjecture for coverings<br />

analogous to his Conjecture 30.1 on packings as follows:<br />

Conjecture 31.1. Let C be a proper convex body in E d . Then ϑT (C) is attained by<br />

a suitable periodic covering of C.<br />

32 Tiling with <strong>Convex</strong> Polytopes<br />

Tiling problems date back to antiquity, see the historical remarks on honeycombs by<br />

Hales [472]. We mention also Kepler, MacLaurin <strong>and</strong> Kelvin. In his vortex theory of<br />

planetary motion, Descartes [262] used figures which are almost Dirichlet–Voronoĭ<br />

tilings, compare Gaukroger [362]. I owe this information to Rolf Klein [598]. Problems<br />

on quadratic forms led Dirichlet [272] <strong>and</strong> later Voronoĭ [1014] <strong>and</strong> Delone<br />

[255], his disciple Ryshkov <strong>and</strong> their school to study lattice <strong>and</strong> non-lattice tiling,<br />

while Fedorov’s [319] research on tiling was the outgrowth of his seminal work in<br />

crystallography. Hilbert’s [501] 18th problem made tiling problems more popular.<br />

Since then there has been a continuous stream of tiling results.<br />

In this section we first present Dirichlet–Voronoĭ <strong>and</strong> Delone tilings. Then the<br />

basic theorem of Venkov–McMullen will be given. Finally, we discuss a conjecture<br />

of Voronoĭ <strong>and</strong> Hilbert’s 18th problem.<br />

For detailed information on tiling the reader is referred to the surveys <strong>and</strong> books<br />

of Heesch <strong>and</strong> Kienzle [486], Rogers [851], Fejes Tóth [327], Delone <strong>and</strong> Ryshkov<br />

[259], Grünbaum <strong>and</strong> Shephard [454], Engel [296, 297], <strong>Gruber</strong> <strong>and</strong> Lekkerkerker<br />

[447], Erdös, <strong>Gruber</strong> <strong>and</strong> Hammer [307], Schulte [918], Senechal [925], Johnson<br />

[550], Schattschneider <strong>and</strong> Senechal [883] <strong>and</strong> Engel, Michel <strong>and</strong> Senechal [301].<br />

32.1 Dirichlet–Voronoĭ <strong>and</strong> Delone Tilings <strong>and</strong> Polyhedral Complexes<br />

Among the most important examples of tilings in E d are the Dirichlet–Voronoĭ<br />

tilings <strong>and</strong> the Delone triangulations. The former are important for quadratic forms<br />

<strong>and</strong> in computational geometry, discrete geometry <strong>and</strong> convexity, <strong>and</strong> are of use in

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