Higher-order Godbersen inequality and a characterization of simplices via the face lattice

Abstract

We settle the long-standing Godbersen conjecture that the mixed volume of a convex body of fixed positive volume with its reflection about the origin is maximized precisely by simplices. For the proof, we establish a new characterization of simplices by a natural incidence relation on the face lattice. Moreover, we establish a higher-order generalization of the Godbersen inequality and show that simplices are the only nontrivial equality cases, confirming a conjecture of Schneider from 2000.