Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: We give a computer-assisted proof that at most seven congruent infinite circular cylinders in $\mathbb{R}^3$ can touch pairwise. This answers a question of Littlewood from 1968. For cylinders of arbitrary radii we prove the upper bound ten. Whether ten can be attained remains open.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Institutions: Baruch College, City University of New York
Language: English
Subfield: Applied Mathematics
Field: Mathematics
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7222891090