|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rigidity of spherical
codes
Henry Cohn, Yang Jiao, Abhinav Kumar and Salvatore Torquato |
|
Geometry & Topology 15 (2011) 2235–2273
|
Abstract |
|
A packing of spherical caps on the surface of a sphere (that is, a spherical code) is called rigid or jammed if it is isolated within the space of packings. In other words, aside from applying a global isometry, the packing cannot be deformed. In this paper, we systematically study the rigidity of spherical codes, particularly kissing configurations. One surprise is that the kissing configuration of the Coxeter–Todd lattice is not jammed, despite being locally jammed (each individual cap is held in place if its neighbors are fixed); in this respect, the Coxeter–Todd lattice is analogous to the face-centered cubic lattice in three dimensions. By contrast, we find that many other packings have jammed kissing configurations, including the Barnes–Wall lattice and all of the best kissing configurations known in four through twelve dimensions. Jamming seems to become much less common for large kissing configurations in higher dimensions, and in particular it fails for the best kissing configurations known in through dimensions. Motivated by this phenomenon, we find new kissing configurations in these dimensions, which improve on the records set in 1982 by the laminated lattices. |
Additional material |
Keywords
rigidity, jamming, packing, spherical codes, kissing
problem
|
Mathematical Subject Classification 2000
Primary: 52C25
Secondary: 52C17
|
References |
Publication
Received: 24 February 2011
Revised: 23 May 2011
Accepted: 3 June 2011
Published: 23 November 2011
Proposed: Rob Kirby
Seconded: Dmitri Burago, Joan Birman
|
Authors |
| Henry Cohn | |
| Microsoft Research New England One Memorial Drive Cambridge, MA 02142 |
|
| Yang Jiao | |
| Physical Sciences–Oncology
Center Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey 08544 |
|
| Abhinav Kumar | |
| Department of Mathematics Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA 02139 |
|
| Salvatore Torquato | |
| Department of Chemistry Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey 08544 |
|
|
