Grassmann angles and absorption probabilities of Gaussian convex hulls

Abstract

Let $M$ be an arbitrary subset in ${\mathbb{R}}^n$ with a conic (or positive) hull $C$. Consider its Gaussian image $AM$, where $A$ is a $k\times n$-matrix whose entries are independent standard Gaussian random variables. We show that the probability that the convex hull of $AM$ contains the origin in its interior coincides with the $k$-th Grassmann angle of $C$. Also, we prove that the expected Grassmann angles of $AC$ coincide with the corresponding Grassmann angles of $C$. Using the latter result, we show that the expected sum of $j$-th Grassmann angles at $\ell$-dimensional faces of a Gaussian simplex equals the analogous angle-sum for the regular simplex of the same dimension.

22 pages. Compared to the previous version, one reference added