A new class of continuous valuations on the space of convex functions on $\mathbb{ R}^n$ is introduced. On smooth convex functions, they are defined for $i=0,\dots,n$ by \begin{ equation*} u\mapsto \int_{ \mathbb{ R}^n} \zeta(u(x),x,\nabla u(x))\,[\operatorname{ D}^2 u(x)]_i\,{ \rm d} x \end{ equation*} where $\zeta\in C(\mathbb{ R}\times\mathbb{ R}^n\times\mathbb{ R}^n)$ and $[\operatorname{ D}^2 u]_i$ is the $i$th elementary symmetric function of the eigenvalues of the Hessian matrix, $\operatorname{ D}^2 u$, of $u$. Under suitable assumptions on $\zeta$, these valuations are shown to be invariant under translations and rotations on convex and coercive functions.

Categories: math.MG math.FA

Hessian valuations