Theorems on the Separability of α-Sets in Euclidean Space

Abstract

We study α-sets in Euclidean space ℝⁿ. The notion of α-set is introduced as a generalization of a convex closed set in ℝⁿ. This notion appeared in the study of reachable sets and integral funnels of nonlinear control systems in Euclidean spaces. Reachable sets of nonlinear dynamic systems are usually nonconvex, and the degree of their nonconvexity is different in different systems. This circumstance prompted the introduction of a classification of sets in ℝⁿ according to the degree of their nonconvexity. Such a classification stems from control theory and is presented here in terms of α-sets in ℝⁿ.