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Questions tagged [lattices]

Lattices in the sense of discrete subgroups of Euclidean spaces, as used in number theory, discrete geometry, Lie groups, etc. (Not to be confused with lattice theory or lattices as used in physics! For lattices (ordered sets), use the tag: [lattice-theory])

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55 votes
2 answers
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Is it known? A sum over lattice parallelograms of area one is equal to $\pi$

I recently discovered a formula, my proof is really a high school proof in three lines. $$4\sum_{x, \, y \, \in \, \mathbb Z_{\geq 0}^2, \, \det(x \ \ y) = 1} \frac{1}{\lVert x\rVert^2\cdot\lVert y\...
Nikita Kalinin's user avatar
53 votes
5 answers
9k views

Why do bees create hexagonal cells ? (Mathematical reasons)

Question 0 Are there any mathematical phenomena which are related to the form of honeycomb cells? Question 1 Maybe hexagonal lattices satisfy certain optimality condition(s) which are related to it? ...
Alexander Chervov's user avatar
37 votes
19 answers
5k views

Counterexamples in universal algebra

Universal algebra - roughly - is the study, construed broadly, of classes of algebraic structures (in a given language) defined by equations. Of course, it is really much more than that, but that's ...
37 votes
2 answers
2k views

A group-theoretic perspective on Frankl's union closed problem

Here is a group theoretic phrasing of a special case of the union closed conjecture: Question: Given a finite group $G$, is there an element of prime power order which is contained in at most half ...
Gjergji Zaimi's user avatar
33 votes
3 answers
3k views

Understanding sphere packing in higher dimensions

In a recent publication by the Ukrainian mathematician Maryna Viazovska the Kepler problem for dimension $8$ and $24$, namely the densest packing of spheres, was solved. Admittedly it is very ...
user avatar
33 votes
3 answers
2k views

Polar body of a convex body that avoids a lattice

Let $K \subset {\bf R}^d$ be a symmetric convex body (an open bounded convex neighbourhood of the origin with $K = -K$) with the property that $K + {\bf Z}^d \neq {\bf R}^d$, i.e. the projection of $K$...
Terry Tao's user avatar
  • 114k
30 votes
0 answers
747 views

Is there an Ehrhart polynomial for Gaussian integers

Let $N$ be a positive integer and let $P \subset \mathbb{C}$ be a polygon whose vertices are of the form $(a_1+b_1 i)/N$, $(a_2+b_2 i)/N$, ..., $(a_r+b_r i)/N$, with $a_j + b_j i$ being various ...
David E Speyer's user avatar
27 votes
7 answers
9k views

Why are two "random" vectors in $\mathbb R^n$ approximately orthogonal for large $n$?

I saw that two random independent vectors are approximately orthogonal in high dimensional space. How can I prove this? And is there an intuitive explanation? Thank you.
YONGSEEN KIM's user avatar
26 votes
1 answer
1k views

How random are unit lattices in number fields?

I was wondering how random unit lattices in number fields are. To make this more precise: If $K$ is a number field with embeddings $\sigma_1, \dots, \sigma_n, \overline{\sigma_{r+1}}, \dots, \...
felix's user avatar
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25 votes
2 answers
1k views

Which even lattices have a theta series with this property?

This is a slight generalization of a question I made in Math StackExchange, which is still unanswered after a month, so I decided to post it here. I am sorry in advance if it is inappropriate for this ...
pregunton's user avatar
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24 votes
2 answers
889 views

Simple conjecture about rational orthogonal matrices and lattices

The following conjecture grew out of thinking about topological phases of matter. Despite being very elementary to state, it has evaded proof both by me and by everyone I've asked so far. The ...
Philip Boyle Smith's user avatar
23 votes
1 answer
1k views

Codes, lattices, vertex operator algebras

At the end of "Notes on Chapter 1" in the Preface to the Third Edition of Sphere packings, lattices and groups, Conway and Sloane write the following: Finally, we cannot resist calling attention to ...
Will Orrick's user avatar
  • 2,150
22 votes
4 answers
2k views

What exactly is the relationship between codes over finite fields and Euclidean sphere-packings?

So I know that error-correcting codes are sphere packings in the Hamming metric, and that intuition and technical tools from the Euclidean case can often be applied to the finite-field case and vice ...
Harrison Brown's user avatar
19 votes
1 answer
825 views

Number of matrices with given Smith normal form

Denote with $\mathcal{M}$ the set of $(m \times n)$-matrices with integer coefficients bounded by some $K$. Given a matrix $B \in \mathcal{M}$ that is in Smith normal form, is anything known about the ...
Martin's user avatar
  • 1,101
18 votes
3 answers
2k views

A Priori proof that Covering Radius strictly less than $\sqrt 2$ implies class number one

It turns out that each of Pete L. Clark's "euclidean" quadratic forms, as long as it has coefficients in the rational integers $\mathbb Z$ and is positive, is in a genus containing only one ...
Will Jagy's user avatar
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18 votes
1 answer
911 views

Is the ball reducible in some high dimension?

Let $K$ be a bounded symmetric ($-K=K$) open convex body in $\mathbb R^n$. The critical determinant $d(K)$ of $K$ is the least possible volume $|\operatorname{det}(a_1\dots a_n)|$ of the fundamental ...
fedja's user avatar
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16 votes
2 answers
992 views

Maximal number of maximal subgroups

Let $G$ be a finite group. I want to find an upper bound on the number of the maximal subgroups. My questions is does it possible to prove that the number of maximal subgroups of any finite group $G$ ...
Klim Efremenko's user avatar
16 votes
2 answers
2k views

How is the Ising model an example of a lattice model as per Kontsevich?

In section 3.2 of Kontsevich's very interesting paper "Notes on motives in finite characteristic,", he gives an axiomatic definition of a "lattice model" attached to a Boltzmann ...
JSE's user avatar
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16 votes
1 answer
1k views

On (a generalization of) the Gauss Circle Problem

Most (if not all) references I read about the Gauss Circle Problem that proves a bound below $O(R^{2/3})$ reduces the GCP to the Dirichlet Divisor Problem by the well known expression of $r_2(n)$, the ...
Fan Zheng's user avatar
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16 votes
1 answer
664 views

Polynomials leaving invariant the Gaussian integers

It can easily be shown that if a complex polynomial $P$ leaves invariant $\mathbb{Z}$ ($P(\mathbb{Z}) \subseteq \mathbb{Z}$) then it must be a linear combination (with integer coefficients) of Hilbert ...
MarcoSan's user avatar
  • 163
16 votes
4 answers
597 views

The lattice spanned by $m$ random 0-1 vectors of length $n$

Consider $m$ random 0-1 vectors of length $n$. Let $L$ be the lattice spanned by them. What is the value of $m$ (as a function of $n$) for which it is true with positive probability that $L=Z^n$? More ...
Gil Kalai's user avatar
  • 24.7k
15 votes
1 answer
586 views

Counting primitive lattice points

In Lemma 2 of [1], Heath-Brown proves the following (I state a simplified version of a more general result): Let $\Lambda \subset \mathbb{Z}^2$ be a lattice of determinant $d(\Lambda)$. Then $$\# ...
Daniel Loughran's user avatar
15 votes
3 answers
1k views

orbits of automorphism group for indefinite lattices

I have a question about indefinite lattices. QUESTION: Let $\Lambda\times\Lambda\rightarrow {\Bbb Z}$ be a lattice, that is, ${\Bbb Z}^n$ with a non-degenerate integer quadratic form, not necessarily ...
Misha Verbitsky's user avatar
15 votes
1 answer
968 views

Counting lattice points inside a three-dimensional ellipsoid

I want to answer the following simple question: Given a three-dimensional ellipsoid defined by $Q(x, y, z) \leq Z$ for a positive definite quadratic form $Q$, how many lattice points in $\mathbb{Z}^...
Frank Thorne's user avatar
  • 7,337
14 votes
4 answers
1k views

Localic locales? Towards very pointless spaces by iterated internalization.

One can think of locales as (generalizations of) topological spaces which don't necessary have (enough) points. Of course when one studies locales, one "actually" studies frames, certain sorts of ...
David Feldman's user avatar
14 votes
2 answers
882 views

Lattice points and convex bodies

Given are two convex bodies $K, L \subset \mathbb{R}^n$ that contain the origin as an interior point. Assume the number of integer points contained in $\lambda K$ equals the number of integer points ...
alvarezpaiva's user avatar
  • 13.5k
14 votes
2 answers
1k views

discrete subgroups of Lie groups and actions on homogeneous spaces

Let $\Gamma$ be a discrete subgroup of a connected finite dimensional Lie group $G$. Let $K$ be a maximal compact subgroup of $G$ and denote $X=G/K$. It is well-known that $\Gamma$ acts properly on $X$...
Dieter's user avatar
  • 539
14 votes
1 answer
637 views

How do we know there are no more Deligne–Mostow/Thurston lattices?

In the context of hypergeometric functions, Deligne and Mostow enumerated several lattices in complex hyperbolic space/the rank 1 Lie group $\operatorname{PU}(1,n)$ (see [1] and [2]). Thurston used ...
Ethan Dlugie's user avatar
  • 1,277
14 votes
1 answer
516 views

Geometric explanation for coincidence in lengths of 16-dimensional even unimodular lattices?

Question Up to equivalence, there are two positive-definite even unimodular lattices in $16$ dimensions: $D_{8}^{+}\oplus D_{8}^{+}$ and $D_{16}^{+}$. As observed by Witt in 1941, the theory of ...
Ben Mares's user avatar
  • 401
13 votes
3 answers
665 views

Conjecture regarding closest point inside a discrete ball to a line

I'm a PhD student in image processing, where I've stumbled into a problem that seems to be essentially number theory. I've hunted around online and while I've found many results on similar problems, ...
Rob's user avatar
  • 323
13 votes
2 answers
697 views

in search of a transformation between determinants

Motivated by this MO question. Consider the two matrices $A_n$ and $B_n$ with entries $\binom{2j}i$ and $\binom{n+1}{2j-i}$, respectively; for $1\leq i, \,j\leq n$. I can show $\det A_n=\det B_n=2^{\...
T. Amdeberhan's user avatar
13 votes
3 answers
1k views

When are Ehrhart functions of compact convex sets polynomials?

Given a lattice $L$ and a subset $P\subset \mathbb R^d$, we define for each positive integer $t$ $$f_P(L,t)=|(tP\cap L)|$$ the number of lattice points in $tP$. Let's say $P$ is nice if $f_P(L,t)$ is ...
Gjergji Zaimi's user avatar
12 votes
4 answers
3k views

Elliptic Curves, Lattices, Lie Algebras

I've recently started to look at elliptic curves and have three basic questions: Is it correct to say that elliptic curves $E$ in the projective plane are in bijective correspondence with lattices $...
John McCarthy's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
1k views

Niemeier lattices and theta functions

I have an extremely elementary question. Let's say someone randomly hands you a theta function associated to a Niemeier lattice (unimodular even, n=24). What can you say about which Niemeier lattice ...
schur's user avatar
  • 1,022
12 votes
2 answers
832 views

24 vectors in Leech lattice having scalar product $\frac{1}{4}$ pairwise

Two vectors from Leech lattice - as defined on wikipedia - have scalar product $\pm 32,\pm 16, \pm 8$ or $0$. Do there exist 24 vectors having scalar product 8 pairwise ? When we consider unit vectors ...
user avatar
12 votes
2 answers
5k views

The Gauss circle problem on a hexagonal lattice

Take an infinite hexagonal lattice (or equivalently, an equilateral triangular lattice), with unit spacing between the closest lattice point pairs, and draw a disc of radius $r$ centered on a lattice ...
user27203's user avatar
  • 197
12 votes
2 answers
980 views

Higman's lemma and a manuscript of Erdős and Rado

Motivated by a problem in factorization theory, I've recently proved the following: Theorem. If $X$ is a non-empty finite alphabet and $\mathcal W$ an infinite subset of the free semigroup, $X^\ast$...
Salvo Tringali's user avatar
12 votes
3 answers
707 views

A "round" lattice with low kissing number?

Historically, the lattices with high density were studied intensively, e.g. E_8 lattice or Leech Lattice. However, there are situations that lattices with low kissing number are required. Specifically,...
Kore Min's user avatar
  • 139
12 votes
1 answer
946 views

Inequality regarding sum of gaussian on lattices

When S is a subset of an inner product space, let d(S) denote ${\sum\limits_{s \in S} e^{- \langle s,s \rangle}}$ Suppose L is a discrete additive subgroup of $\mathbb{R^n}$, M is a subgroup of L, ...
Tom Price's user avatar
  • 804
12 votes
3 answers
790 views

2-dimensional sublattices with all vectors having very big square (in absolute value)

QUESTION: Let $\Lambda\times\Lambda\rightarrow {\Bbb Z}$ be a lattice, that is, ${\Bbb Z}^n$ with a non-degenerate integer quadratic form, not definite, not necessarily unimodular, $n>2$. I want ...
Misha Verbitsky's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
418 views

When does a locally symmetric space have no odd degree Betti numbers?

Let $G$ be a semisimple real lie group, $K$ be a maximal compact subgroup of $G$, $\Gamma$ be a torsion-free cocompact discrete subgroup. The Betti number the locally symmetric space $X_{\Gamma}:=\...
Zhiyu's user avatar
  • 6,622
12 votes
1 answer
380 views

Do lattices with small covering radius have sublattices with small covering radius?

For me a lattice is a discrete subgroup of $\mathbb R^n$. The linear span of a lattice, written $\Lambda \otimes \mathbb R$, is the $\mathbb R$-vector subspace of $\mathbb R^n$ generated by $\Lambda$. ...
Will Sawin's user avatar
  • 148k
12 votes
0 answers
287 views

Who first showed that $SL(n,O_K)$ is a lattice for a number ring $O_K$?

Let $O_K$ be the ring of integers in an algebraic number field $K$. Assume that $K$ has $r$ real embeddings and $s$ pairs of complex conjugate complex embeddings. There is then an injective ...
Melanie's user avatar
  • 181
12 votes
0 answers
551 views

Connes & Marcolli: Q-lattices generalize Conway's "Understanding groups like $\Gamma_0(N)$"

Has anyone generalized Conway's description of Hecke operators on lattices to the Q-lattices of Connes & Marcolli ? Light may well be shone on moonshine thus.
John McKay's user avatar
11 votes
4 answers
2k views

Concrete examples of noncongruence, arithmetic subgroups of SL(2,R)

A subgroup of $SL_2(\mathbb{R})$ is called arithmetic if it is commensurable with $SL_2(\mathbb{Z})$. An arithmetic subgroup is called congruence if it contains a subgroup of type $\Gamma(N)$ for ...
Marc Palm's user avatar
  • 11.2k
11 votes
2 answers
1k views

Is there a contractible hyperbolic 3-orbifold of finite volume?

Let $\mathbb{H}^3:=\operatorname{SO}(3,1)/\operatorname{O(3)}$. Is there a lattice $\Gamma$ in $\operatorname{SO}(3,1)$ such that \begin{equation} X:=\mathbb{H}^3/\Gamma \end{equation} is contractible?...
David.D's user avatar
  • 423
11 votes
1 answer
1k views

The Number of Short Vectors in a Lattice

Given a lattice $L = \bigoplus_{i=1}^{m} \mathbb{Z}v_i$ (the $v_i$ are linearly independent vectors in $\mathbb{R}^n$) and a number $c > 0$, can one quickly compute or find a good estimate on the ...
OSHE's user avatar
  • 113
11 votes
2 answers
466 views

Defining measures over frames in place of $\sigma$-algebras

Normally, measures and probability spaces are defined over $\sigma$-algebras. I was wondering what would happen if one tries to define it over frames in place of $\sigma$-algebras? Specifically, ...
Kaveh's user avatar
  • 5,502
11 votes
1 answer
3k views

Best way to find a closest vector in a lattice

Let $v_1,\dotsc,v_n$ be linearly independent vectors in $\mathbb{R}^n$, and let $\Lambda=\bigoplus_{i=1}^n \mathbb{Z}v_i$. The question is, given a vector $w$ in $\mathbb R^n$, find the element $v$ ...
David Cardon's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
442 views

Chromatic number of Voronoi diagrams of lattices

Let $L$ be a Euclidean lattice. Define a graph whose vertex set is $L$ and where two points $x,y\in L$ are declared to be adjacent whenever the cells of $x$ and $y$ in the Voronoi diagram of $L$ have ...
Gro-Tsen's user avatar
  • 32.5k

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