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Here is a textbook level description of the above. I assume you know what a convex set and convex function on this set are. Given that, let us know prove that the determinant is strictly log-concave on hermitian positive definite matrices.

Claim. Let $A, B > 0$. Then, $\det\left(\frac{A+B}{2}\right) \ge \sqrt{\det(AB)}$

Proof Consider $\phi(A) := \log\det(A)$. The first derivative of this is $A^{-1}$, while the second derivative may be identified with $-A^{-1}\otimes A^{-1}$, which is clearly negative definite if $A > 0$. This proves the desired concavity of $\phi(A)$, and therewith the claim above.

Note: Minkowski's determinant inequality is not the same as the above log-concavity. It is stronger, and enjoys a variety of different proof attempts. For a great list of these, have a look at the following much older MO question.

Suvrit
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