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])
652 questions
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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\...
53
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5
answers
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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? ...
37
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19
answers
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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
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2
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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 ...
33
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3
answers
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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 ...
33
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3
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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$...
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0
answers
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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 ...
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7
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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.
26
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1
answer
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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, \...
25
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2
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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 ...
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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 ...
23
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1
answer
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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 ...
22
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4
answers
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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 ...
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answer
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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 ...
18
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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 ...
18
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1
answer
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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 ...
16
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2
answers
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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$ ...
16
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2
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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 ...
16
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1
answer
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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 ...
16
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1
answer
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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 ...
16
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4
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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 ...
15
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1
answer
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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
$$\# ...
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3
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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 ...
15
votes
1
answer
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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}^...
14
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4
answers
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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 ...
14
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2
answers
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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 ...
14
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2
answers
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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 $X$...
14
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1
answer
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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 ...
14
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1
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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 ...
13
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3
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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, ...
13
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2
answers
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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^{\...
13
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3
answers
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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 ...
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4
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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 $...
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1
answer
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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 ...
12
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2
answers
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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 ...
12
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2
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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 ...
12
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2
answers
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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, $X^\ast$...
12
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3
answers
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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,...
12
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1
answer
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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, ...
12
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3
answers
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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 ...
12
votes
1
answer
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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}:=\...
12
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1
answer
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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 $\Lambda$. ...
12
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0
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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 ...
12
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0
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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.
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4
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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 ...
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2
answers
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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?...
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1
answer
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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 ...
11
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2
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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, ...
11
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1
answer
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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 $v$ ...
11
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1
answer
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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 ...