Kakeya problem

2009-04-01T16:57:25Z

217.132.31.115:

A '''Kakeya set''' in <math>{\mathbb F}_3^n</math> is a subset <math>E\subset{\mathbb F}_3^n</math> that contains an [[algebraic line]] in every direction; that is, for every <math>d\in{\mathbb F}_3^n</math>, there exists <math>e\in{\mathbb F}_3^n</math> such that <math>e,e+d,e+2d</math> all lie in <math>E</math>. Let <math>k_n</math> be the smallest size of a Kakeya set in <math>{\mathbb F}_3^n</math>.

Clearly, we have <math>k_1=3</math>, and it is easy to see that <math>k_2=7</math>. Using a computer, it is not difficult to find that <math>k_3=13</math> and <math>k_4\le 27</math>. Indeed, it seems likely that <math>k_4=27</math> holds, meaning that in <math>{\mathbb F}_3^4</math> one cannot get away with just <math>26</math> elements.

== Some Basic Estimates ==

Trivially, we have

:<math>k_n\le k_{n+1}\le 3k_n</math>.

Since the Cartesian product of two Kakeya sets is another Kakeya set, we also have

:<math>k_{n+m} \leq k_m k_n</math>;

this implies that <math>k_n^{1/n}</math> converges to a limit as <math>n</math> goes to infinity.

== Lower Bounds ==

From a paper of [http://arxiv.org/abs/0901.2529 Dvir, Kopparty, Saraf, and Sudan] it follows that <math>k_n \geq 3^n / 2^n</math>, but this is superseded by the estimates given below.

To each of the <math>(3^n-1)/2</math> directions in <math>{\mathbb F}_3^n</math> there correspond at least three pairs of elements in a Kakeya set, determining this direction. Therefore, <math>\binom{k_n}{2}\ge 3\cdot(3^n-1)/2</math>, and hence

:<math>k_n\gtrsim 3^{(n+1)/2}.</math>

One can derive essentially the same conclusion using the "bush" argument, as follows. Let <math>E\subset{\mathbb F}_3^n</math> be a Kakeya set, considered as a union of <math>N := (3^n-1)/2</math> lines in all different directions. Let <math>\mu</math> be the largest number of lines that are concurrent at a point of <math>E</math>. The number of point-line incidences is at most <math>|E|\mu</math> and at least <math>3N</math>, whence <math>|E|\ge 3N/\mu</math>. On the other hand, by considering only those points on the "bush" of lines emanating from a point with multiplicity <math>\mu</math>, we see that <math>|E|\ge 2\mu+1</math>. Comparing the two last bounds one obtains
<math>|E|\gtrsim\sqrt{6N} \approx 3^{(n+1)/2}</math>.

A better bound follows by using the "slices argument". Let <math>A,B,C\subset{\mathbb F}_3^{n-1}</math> be the three slices of a Kakeya set <math>E\subset{\mathbb F}_3^n</math>. Form a bipartite graph <math>G</math> with the partite sets <math>A</math> and <math>B</math> by connecting <math>a</math> and <math>b</math> by an edge if there is a line in <math>E</math> through <math>a</math> and <math>b</math>. The restricted sumset <math>\{a+b\colon (a,b)\in G\}</math> is contained in the set <math>-C</math>, while the difference set <math>\{a-b\colon (a,b)\in G\}</math> is all of <math>{\mathbb F}_3^{n-1}</math>. Using an estimate from [http://front.math.ucdavis.edu/math.CO/9906097 a paper of Katz-Tao], we conclude that <math>3^{n-1}\le\max(|A|,|B|,|C|)^{11/6}</math>, leading to <math>|E|\ge 3^{6(n-1)/11}</math>. Thus,

:<math>k_n \ge 3^{6(n-1)/11}.</math>

== Upper Bounds ==

We have

:<math>k_n\le 2^{n+1}-1</math>

since the set of all vectors in <math>{\mathbb F}_3^n</math> such that at least one of the numbers <math>1</math> and <math>2</math> is missing among their coordinates is a Kakeya set.

This estimate can be improved using an idea due to Ruzsa (seems to be unpublished). Namely, let <math>E:=A\cup B</math>, where <math>A</math> is the set of all those vectors with <math>r/3+O(\sqrt r)</math> coordinates equal to <math>1</math> and the rest equal to <math>0</math>, and <math>B</math> is the set of all those vectors with <math>2r/3+O(\sqrt r)</math> coordinates equal to <math>2</math> and the rest equal to <math>0</math>. Then <math>E</math>, being of size just about <math>(27/4)^{r/3}</math> (which is not difficult to verify using [[Stirling's formula]]), contains lines in a positive proportion of directions: for, a typical direction <math>d\in {\mathbb F}_3^n</math> can be represented as <math>d=d_1+2d_2</math> with <math>d_1,d_2\in A</math>, and then <math>d_1,d_1+d,d_1+2d\in E</math>. Now one can use the random rotations trick to get the rest of the directions in <math>E</math> (losing a polynomial factor in <math>n</math>).

Putting all this together, we seem to have

:<math>(3^{6/11} + o(1))^n \le k_n \le ( (27/4)^{1/3} + o(1))^n</math>

or

:<math>(1.8207+o(1))^n \le k_n \le (1.8899+o(1))^n.</math>

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Kakeya problem