On the Banach-Mazur Distance between the Cube and the Crosspolytope

Abstract

In this note we study the Banach-Mazur distance between the $n$-dimensional cube and the crosspolytope. Previous work shows that the distance has order $\sqrt{n}$, and here we will prove some explicit bounds improving on former results. Even in dimension 3 the exact distance is not known, and based on computational results it is conjectured to be $\frac{9}{5}$. Here we will also present computerbased potential optimal results in dimension $4$ to $8$.