Ehrhart quasi-polynomials of almost integral polytopes

Abstract

A lattice polytope translated by a rational vector is called an almost integral polytope. In this paper we investigate Ehrhart quasi-polynomials of almost integral polytopes. We study the relationship between the shape of the polytopes and algebraic properties of the Ehrhart quasi-polynomials. In particular, we prove that lattice zonotopes and centrally symmetric lattice polytopes are characterized by Ehrhart quasi-polynomials of their rational translations.