Ball Intersection Properties in Metric Spaces

Abstract

We show that in complete metric spaces, $4$-hyperconvexity is equivalent to finite hyperconvexity. Moreover, every complete, almost $n$-hyperconvex metric space is $n$-hyperconvex. This generalizes among others results of Lindenstrauss and answers questions of Aronszajn-Panitchpakdi. Furthermore, we prove local-to-global results for externally and weakly externally hyperconvex subsets of hyperconvex metric spaces and find sufficient conditions in order for those classes of subsets to be convex with respect to a geodesic bicombing.