Questions tagged [semialgebraic-geometry]
Semialgebraic geometry is the study of inequalities expressible in algebraic functions in one or several variables, usually over the real numbers or some field with similar properties.
25
questions
6
votes
1answer
62 views
Lower convex envelope of polynomial functions
Let $P\in{\mathbb R}[X]$ be a polynomial and $[a,b]$ be a bounded interval. Of course, the graph of $P$ is an algebraic set. I am interested in the lower convex envelope $\bar P$ of $P|_{[a,b]}$. It ...
6
votes
1answer
144 views
Constructing M-curves à la Hilbert
I have been reading some text about Harnack's theorem. The theorem basically says that for degree $d$, the maximal number of connected components in the real (projective) plane of a plane curve with ...
2
votes
0answers
70 views
Representations in Archimedean quadratic modules
Let $\mathbb R [X] = \mathbb R [X_1,\dots,X_n]$ and $\Sigma[X] = \big\{ \, f \in \mathbb R[X] \mid \exists r \in \mathbb N, \ g_i \in \mathbb R[X] \colon f = g_1^2 + \dots + g_r^2 \,\big\}$ denote ...
6
votes
1answer
522 views
General Tarski-Seidenberg Theorem
The Tarski-Seidenberg Theorem states that the polynomial image of a semi-algebraic set is semi-algebraic. A semi-algebraic subset of a Euclidean space $\Bbb{R}^n$ is by definition a finite union of ...
5
votes
0answers
105 views
On strict positivity and Schmüdgen's Positivstellensatz
Schmüdgen's Positivstellensatz requires the polynomial to be strictly positive on a semialgebraic set. While trying to understand it, I am just wondering if the strictly positive condition can be ...
1
vote
0answers
27 views
Convex combination of semi-algebraic sets
Suppose we are given two semi-algebraic sets $S_1$ and $S_2$. Define
$$
S=\{s=ps_1+(1-p)s_2: s_1\in S_1, s_2\in S_2, 0\leq p\leq 1.\}
$$
$S$ is semi-algebraic.
Can we bound the degree of $S$?
If we ...
1
vote
2answers
242 views
Complex semi-algebraic sets
Definition. A subset $S$ of $\mathbb{R}^n$ is called semi-algebraic if $S$ is a finite Boolean combination of sets of the form $\{ x \in \mathbb{R}^n \mid p(x) \ge 0\}$, where $p \in \mathbb{R}[x]$.
...
10
votes
2answers
173 views
The set of polytopes with given $f$-vector
Let $f=(f_0,\ldots f_n)$ be a vector in $\Bbb N^{n+1}$. Let $X$ be the set of all (ordered) $f_0$-tuples in $\Bbb R^n$ whose convex hull has $f$ as its $f$-vector. Assume that $X$ is non-empty. Is ...
3
votes
1answer
201 views
Solutions to a system of homogeneous equations (inequalities)
Let $f_1,\ldots,f_r \in \mathbb{R}[x_1,\ldots,x_n]$ be $r$ homogeneous polynomials of the same odd degree $d$, where $d \in \{3,5,7,\ldots\}$.
For which values of $r,n,d$ there exists a real ...
11
votes
1answer
280 views
First order decidability of limit of gradient flow?
Let $f: \mathbb{R}^n\to\mathbb{R}$ be a polynomial function, and let $p$ be a critical point. Consider the ascending manifold $A_p$ consisting of all points whose limit under the gradient flow of $f$ ...
12
votes
2answers
679 views
Polynomials that preserve nonnegativity
A polynomial $p \in \mathbb{R}[x_1,\dots,x_n]$ is said to be positive on a subset $S$ of $\mathbb{R}^n$ if $p(x) > 0$ for every $x \in S$. The polynomial $p$ is called nonnegative if $p(x) \ge 0$ ...
4
votes
1answer
137 views
Semialgebraic sets containing irrational power functions
Let $\alpha$ be an irrational number, and consider the set $A=\{(x,x^\alpha),x\ge 0\}\subseteq \mathbb{R}^2$, which is the graph of the function $f(x)=x^\alpha$.
I'm trying to prove/disprove the ...
2
votes
0answers
108 views
Classification of $n$-dimensional Nash-submanifolds of $\mathbb{R}^n$
Let $M,N\subset \mathbb{R}^n$ be two open semi-algebraic subsets, and assume that $M$ and $N$ are $C^\infty$ diffeomorphic, i.e. isomorphic as smooth submanifolds of $\mathbb{R}^n$. Does this imply ...
7
votes
1answer
218 views
Do convex closed semialgebraic hyperplane cross-sections imply semi-algebraicity?
Let $S\subset\mathbb{R}^n$, with $n\geq 3$, such that for any hyperplane $L$ one has $L\cap S$ closed, semialgebraic, and convex. Is it true that $S$ itself is semialgebraic?
A colleague explained to ...
3
votes
0answers
74 views
Constraints on cone of semialgebraic set
Let $S$ be a (basic) semialgebraic set, for which we know the constraints (i.e. we know the polynomial inequalities and equalities which define the set). Is it necessarily the case that the cone $C = \...
4
votes
2answers
431 views
Is a spectrahedron's boundary almost always “smooth”?
A spectrahedron is a convex set defined by a linear matrix inequality (LMI).
Is the boundary of such a set almost always smooth?
By "smooth" I mean that it admits a tangent hyperplane at any point ...
6
votes
0answers
218 views
Where do I read about semi-algebraic/analytic sets?
What's a good introduction to semi-algebraic/semi-analytic sets?
I'm coming from algebraic geometry, so ideally I'd prefer material that has a similar point of view and highlights analogies.
I've ...
0
votes
0answers
97 views
Cross sections of semialgebric sets
Let $n$ be bigger than two, and let $A$ be a subset of the $n$-dimensional Euclidean space.
Suppose that the intersection of $A$ with any $(n-1)$-dimensional affine hyperplane is semialgebraic.
...
8
votes
1answer
227 views
Do semialgebraic sets depend outer semicontinuously on their defining polynomials?
Consider a compact (semialgebraic) ball $B\subset \mathbb{R}^n$ and a semialgebraic set $A=A(f_1,\cdots,f_s)\subset \mathbb{R}^n$ defined through some representation in terms of polynomials $f_1,\...
11
votes
2answers
315 views
Convexity of a certain sublevel set
Consider the polynomial of degree $4$ in variable $r$
$$ r^4 + (x^2 + y^2)\ r^2 - 2 x y\ r + x^2 y^2 $$
The discriminant of this polynomial in $r$ is the following expression
(obtained using ...
7
votes
0answers
189 views
Moduli in semialgebraic geometry
Is there a moduli space in semialgebraic geometry analogous to the Hilbert scheme in algebraic geometry?
The sort of thing I am imagining is an object in a category of semischemes:
Ordinary schemes ...
4
votes
1answer
169 views
Compactness of a semi algebraic set
Suppose I have a polynomial $p\in R[x_1,\ldots,x_n]$ and I look at the set $S:=\{ x\in R^n : p(x)\geq 0\}$. Are there algebraic certificates on $p$ that will certify that $S$ is compact?
5
votes
1answer
272 views
Convexity of a specific semialgebraic set
I have an engineering problem that may be solved using semidefinite programming. I would like to know whether a given set is convex.
Let $m \in \mathbb{R}^+$ be a positive real scalar, $l \in \mathbb{...
4
votes
1answer
173 views
Ultrafilters on the set of semialgebraic subsets of R^2
Let $R$ be a real closed field and $f: R \to R$ a map. Then let $\textrm{F}(f)$ be the set of semialgebraic subsets of $R^2$, which contain $(t,f(t))$ for all $0< t< \epsilon$ for some $\epsilon ...
1
vote
1answer
189 views
Is the closure of a semialgebraic set mod 1 also semialgebraic?
Let $p:\mathbb{R}^n\to[0,1)^n$ be the map defined by $p(x_1,\ldots,x_n)=(\{x_1\},\ldots,\{x_n\})$, where $\{\cdot\}$ is the fractional part operator. Experimentation suggests that if $S \subseteq \...
