On the coordinates of minimal vectors in a Minkowski-reduced basis

Finding the shortest non-zero vectors in a lattice is a computationally hard problem (NP-hard in general dimensions), making results in low dimensions particularly important in lattice reduction theory. This paper focuses on the coordinates of minimal lattice vectors when expressed in a Minkowski-reduced basis. By applying Ryskov’s findings on admissible centerings and Tammela’s work characterizing Minkowski-reduced forms via a finite set of inequalities (up to dimension 6), we demonstrate sharp bounds on the absolute values of these coordinates. Specifically, we show that for dimensions n ≤ 6, the absolute values of the coordinates of any minimal vector with respect to a Minkowski-reduced basis are bounded by 1 (for n = 2, 3), 2 (for n = 4, 5), and 3 (for n = 6). This refines bounds implicitly available from Tammela’s results by combining geometric arguments from lattice theory, admissible centering theory, and reduction theory.