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Let $\langle X, X' \rangle$ be a dual pair equipped with the weak and weak* topologies.

Let $C$ be a weak* compact subset of $X'$ with nonempty interior. For each $x \in X$, let $M(x)$ be the set of minimisers of $\langle x, \cdot \rangle$ on $C$. Each $M(x)$ is non-empty, convex, and closed.

My question is: What additional conditions on $C$ imply that $M$ admits a continuous selection, i.e. a continuous function $f: X \to X'$ such that $f(x) \in M(x)$?

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I think the answer is: only in the trivial case when each $M(x)$ is a singleton $\{f(x)\}$. Indeed, if $M(x)$ has more than one point, it has at least $2$ extremal points. An extremal point of a convex compact set $C$ of a LCTVS (here, $X’$ with its weak* topology) is the unique minimiser on $C$ for some continuous linear form (thus, here, an evaluation). So for $i\in\{1,2\}$ there are $x_i$ in $X$ and $y_i$ in $M(x)$ such that $M(x_i)=\{y_i\}$. Moreover, $M(x_i)=M(tx_i+(1-t)x)$ for any proper convex combination of $x_i$ and $x$. This forbids the existence of a continuous selection for $M$, for any selection has to jump at $x$ from $y_1$ to $y_2$.

In fact, for any $x\in X$ and for any selection $f$ of $M$ the whole set $M(x)$ can be recovered as closed convex hull of the discontinuity set of $f$ at $x$: $$M(x)=\bigcap_{U\text{ nbd of } x}\overline{\text{co}}f(U)= \overline{\text{co}}\Big( \bigcap _{U\text{ nbd of } x} f(U)\Big).$$ In particular, there exists a continuous selection of the multi $M$ if and only if there is only one selection, that is $M(x)$ is a singleton for all $x$: in other words, every point of $\partial C$ is extremal, that is $C$ is strictly convex ($\partial C$ contains no non-empty open segment).

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    $\begingroup$ Thanks for your helpful answer. On second thought, I'm going to leave the question open for now as I'm still interested in how to answer it even if $M(x)$ has to be a singleton. $\endgroup$
    – aduh
    Commented Nov 11, 2021 at 2:04
  • $\begingroup$ In fact there exists a continuous selection if and only if there is only one selection, that is $M(x)$ is a singleton for all $x$. In other words, iff all points of $\partial C$ are extremal. $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 11, 2021 at 6:49
  • $\begingroup$ Ah okay thanks! Do you know of a simple example of a $C$ like that in an infinite dimensional space? $\endgroup$
    – aduh
    Commented Nov 11, 2021 at 6:52
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    $\begingroup$ Any strictly convex ball $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 11, 2021 at 7:08

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