Title: Curves of constant width Author: Miroslav Němec Department: Department of Mathematics Education Supervisor: RNDr. Antonín Slavík, Ph.D., Department of Mathematics Education Abstract: The aim of this thesis is to familiarize the reader with the notion of the width of a given plane curve, and with curves having the same width in all directions. We focus our attention especially on those curves that are constructible using straightedge and compass. The chapters presenting the definition and measurement of curve width, as well as the construction of curves from circular arcs, are accessible to high-school students. We also briefly mention other related topics, such as the solids of constant width. Keywords: Width of a curve, constant width, construction, properties

The objective of this dissertation is the application of Minkowskian cross-section measures (i.e., section and projection measures in finite-dimensional linear normed spaces over the real field) to various topics of geometric convexity in Minkowski spaces, such as bodies of constant Minkowskian width, Minkowskian geometry of simplices, geometric inequalities and the corresponding optimization problems for convex bodies. First we examine one-dimensional Minkowskian cross-section measures deriving (in a unified manner) various properties of these measures. Some of these properties are extensions of the corresponding Euclidean properties, while others are purely Minkowskian. Further on, we discover some new results on the geometry of a simplex in Minkowski spaces, involving descriptions of the so-called tangent Minkowskian balls and of simplices with equal Minkowskian heights. We also give some (characteristic) properties of bodies of constant width in Minkowski planes and in higher dimensional Minkowski spaces. This part of investigation has relations to the well known \emph{Borsuk problem} from the combinatorial geometry and to the widely used monotonicity lemma from the theory of Minkowski spaces. Finally, we study bodies of given Minkowskian thickness ($=$ minimal width) having least possible volume. In the planar case a complete description of this class of bodies is given, while in case of arbitrary dimension sharp estimates for the coefficient in the corresponding geometric inequality are found. / Die Dissertation befasst sich mit Problemen fuer spezielle konvexe Koerper in Minkowski-Raeumen (d.h. in endlich-dimensionalen Banach-Raeumen). Es wurden Klassen der Koerper mit verschiedenen metrischen Eigenschaften betrachtet (z.B., Koerper konstante Breite, reduzierte Koerper, Simplexe mit Inhaltsgleichen Facetten usw.) und einige kennzeichnende und andere Eigenschaften fuer diese Klassen herleitet.

The objective of this dissertation is the application of Minkowskian cross-section measures (i.e., section and projection measures in finite-dimensional linear normed spaces over the real field) to various topics of geometric convexity in Minkowski spaces, such as bodies of constant Minkowskian width, Minkowskian geometry of simplices, geometric inequalities and the corresponding optimization problems for convex bodies. First we examine one-dimensional Minkowskian cross-section measures deriving (in a unified manner) various properties of these measures. Some of these properties are extensions of the corresponding Euclidean properties, while others are purely Minkowskian. Further on, we discover some new results on the geometry of a simplex in Minkowski spaces, involving descriptions of the so-called tangent Minkowskian balls and of simplices with equal Minkowskian heights. We also give some (characteristic) properties of bodies of constant width in Minkowski planes and in higher dimensional Minkowski spaces. This part of investigation has relations to the well known \emph{Borsuk problem} from the combinatorial geometry and to the widely used monotonicity lemma from the theory of Minkowski spaces. Finally, we study bodies of given Minkowskian thickness ($=$ minimal width) having least possible volume. In the planar case a complete description of this class of bodies is given, while in case of arbitrary dimension sharp estimates for the coefficient in the corresponding geometric inequality are found. / Die Dissertation befasst sich mit Problemen fuer spezielle konvexe Koerper in Minkowski-Raeumen (d.h. in endlich-dimensionalen Banach-Raeumen). Es wurden Klassen der Koerper mit verschiedenen metrischen Eigenschaften betrachtet (z.B., Koerper konstante Breite, reduzierte Koerper, Simplexe mit Inhaltsgleichen Facetten usw.) und einige kennzeichnende und andere Eigenschaften fuer diese Klassen herleitet.

This work refers to ball-intersections bodies as well as covering, packing, and kissing problems related to balls and spheres in normed spaces. A quick introduction to these topics and an overview of our results is given in Section 1.1 of Chapter 1. The needed background knowledge is collected in Section 1.2, also in Chapter 1. In Chapter 2 we define ball-intersection bodies and investigate special classes of them: ball-hulls, ball-intersections, equilateral ball-polyhedra, complete bodies and bodies of constant width. Thus, relations between the ball-hull and the ball-intersection of a set are given. We extend a minimal property of a special class of equilateral ball-polyhedra, known as Theorem of Chakerian, to all normed planes. In order to investigate bodies of constant width, we develop a concept of affine orthogonality, which is new even for the Euclidean subcase. In Chapter 2 we solve kissing, covering, and packing problems. For a given family of circles and lines we find at least one, but for some families even all circles kissing all the members of this family. For that reason we prove that a strictly convex, smooth normed plane is a topological Möbius plane. We give an exact geometric description of the maximal radius of all homothets of the unit disc that can be covered by 3 or 4 translates of it. Also we investigate configurations related to such coverings, namely a regular 4-covering and a Miquelian configuration of circles. We find the concealment number for a packing of translates of the unit ball.

La Tesis Doctoral está dedicada al estudio de ciertas propiedades de los radios sucesivos de los cuerpos convexos (funcionales definidos a partir de circunradios e inradios de proyecciones o secciones del cuerpo). Comenzamos estableciendo las nociones básicas necesarias para el desarrollo de los contenidos. A continuación calculamos los radios sucesivos de familias particulares de conjuntos (p-bolas, anchura constante, cuerpos tangenciales), y estudiamos la conexión existente entre estos funcionales y los números de Gelfand y Kolmogorov. En el tercer capítulo consideramos el problema de Pukhov-Perel'man sobre la mejor cota superior para un cierto cociente de radios, determinando desigualdades para problemas de este tipo que van a permitir mejorar los resultados existentes en ciertos casos. Finalmente, estudiamos cómo se relacionan los radios sucesivos de la suma de Minkowski (Firey) de dos cuerpos convexos con los correspondientes funcionales de los conjuntos, obteniendo los resultados óptimos en todos los casos. / The Doctoral Thesis is focused in the study of some properties of the successive radii of convex bodies (functionals defined by means of circumradii and inradii of projections or sections of the set). We start establishing the basic notions that will be needed further on. Next, we compute the successive radii of particular families of sets (p-balls, constant width sets and tangential bodies), and study the connection between these functionals and the Gelfand and Kolmogorov numbers. In the third chapter we consider the Pukhov-Perel'man problem on the best upper bound for a particular ratio of radii, determining inequalities for some problems of this type which will allow to improve the known results in particular cases. Finally we study how the successive radii of the (Firey)-Minkowski addition of two convex bodies are related with the corresponding functionals of the sets, obtaining the optimal results in all cases.

This work refers to ball-intersections bodies as well as covering, packing, and kissing problems related to balls and spheres in normed spaces. A quick introduction to these topics and an overview of our results is given in Section 1.1 of Chapter 1. The needed background knowledge is collected in Section 1.2, also in Chapter 1. In Chapter 2 we define ball-intersection bodies and investigate special classes of them: ball-hulls, ball-intersections, equilateral ball-polyhedra, complete bodies and bodies of constant width. Thus, relations between the ball-hull and the ball-intersection of a set are given. We extend a minimal property of a special class of equilateral ball-polyhedra, known as Theorem of Chakerian, to all normed planes. In order to investigate bodies of constant width, we develop a concept of affine orthogonality, which is new even for the Euclidean subcase. In Chapter 2 we solve kissing, covering, and packing problems. For a given family of circles and lines we find at least one, but for some families even all circles kissing all the members of this family. For that reason we prove that a strictly convex, smooth normed plane is a topological Möbius plane. We give an exact geometric description of the maximal radius of all homothets of the unit disc that can be covered by 3 or 4 translates of it. Also we investigate configurations related to such coverings, namely a regular 4-covering and a Miquelian configuration of circles. We find the concealment number for a packing of translates of the unit ball.