Quantum Jumps of Normal Polytopes

We introduce a partial order on the set of all normal polytopes in . This poset is a natural discrete counterpart of the continuum of convex compact sets in , ordered by inclusion, and exhibits a remarkably rich combinatorial structure. We derive various arithmetic bounds on elementary relations in , called quantum jumps. The existence of extremal objects in is a challenge of number theoretical flavor, leading to interesting classes of normal polytopes: minimal, maximal, spherical. Minimal elements in have played a critical role in disproving various covering conjectures for normal polytopes in the 1990s. Here we report on the first examples of maximal elements in and , found by a combination of the developed theory, random generation, and extensive computer search.