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In mathematics, the Hermite constant, named after Charles Hermite, determines how long a shortest element of a lattice in Euclidean space can be.

The constant γ_n for integers n > 0 is defined as follows. For a lattice L in Euclidean space R with unit covolume, i.e. vol(R/L) = 1, let λ₁(L) denote the least length of a nonzero element of L. Then √γ_n is the maximum of λ₁(L) over all such lattices L.

The square root in the definition of the Hermite constant is a matter of historical convention.

Alternatively, the Hermite constant γ_n can be defined as the square of the maximal systole of a flat n-dimensional torus of unit volume.

Example

The Hermite constant is known in dimensions 1–8 and 24.

n	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	24
${\displaystyle \gamma _{n}^{n}}$	${\displaystyle 1}$	${\displaystyle {\frac {4}{3}}}$	${\displaystyle 2}$	${\displaystyle 4}$	${\displaystyle 8}$	${\displaystyle {\frac {64}{3}}}$	${\displaystyle 64}$	${\displaystyle 2^{8}}$	${\displaystyle 4^{24}}$

For n = 2, one has γ₂ = ⁠2/√3⁠. This value is attained by the hexagonal lattice of the Eisenstein integers.

The constants for the missing n values are conjectured.

Estimates

It is known that

${\displaystyle \gamma _{n}\leq \left({\frac {4}{3}}\right)^{\frac {n-1}{2}}.}$

A stronger estimate due to Hans Frederick Blichfeldt is

${\displaystyle \gamma _{n}\leq \left({\frac {2}{\pi }}\right)\Gamma \left(2+{\frac {n}{2}}\right)^{\frac {2}{n}},}$

where ${\displaystyle \Gamma (x)}$ is the gamma function.

See also

• Loewner's torus inequality

References

1. Cassels (1971) p. 36
2. Leon Mächler; David Naccache (2022). "A Conjecture on Hermite Constants". Cryptology ePrint Archive.
3. Kitaoka (1993) p. 36
4. Blichfeldt, H. F. (1929). "The minimum value of quadratic forms, and the closest packing of spheres". Math. Ann. 101: 605–608. doi:10.1007/bf01454863. JFM 55.0721.01. S2CID 123648492.
5. Kitaoka (1993) p. 42

• Cassels, J.W.S. (1997). An Introduction to the Geometry of Numbers. Classics in Mathematics (Reprint of 1971 ed.). Springer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-540-61788-4.
• Kitaoka, Yoshiyuki (1993). Arithmetic of quadratic forms. Cambridge Tracts in Mathematics. Vol. 106. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-40475-4. Zbl 0785.11021.
• Schmidt, Wolfgang M. (1996). Diophantine approximations and Diophantine equations. Lecture Notes in Mathematics. Vol. 1467 (2nd ed.). Springer-Verlag. p. 9. ISBN 3-540-54058-X. Zbl 0754.11020.

• Systolic geometry
• Geometry of numbers
• Mathematical constants