One of my beloved theorems in matrix analysis is the fact that the map $H\mapsto (\det H)^{1/n}$, defined over the convex cone $HPD_n$ of Hermitian positive definite matrices, is concave. This is accurate, if we think that this map is homogeneous of degree one, thus linear over rays.
- it has important applications in many branches of mathematics,
- it has many elegant proofs. I know at least three complety different ones.
I am interested to learn in both aspects. Which is your prefered proof of the concavity ? Is it useful in your own speciality ? In order to avoid influencing the answers, I decide not to give any example. But those who have visited my page may know my taste.
