Let $V$ a real vector space of dimension $d$. Let $1<k < d-1$. Consider the map induced by the exterior algebra functor: $$ \psi:\text{Hom}(V,V) \to \text{Hom}(\bigwedge^kV,\bigwedge^kV) \, \, \, \, , \, \, \,\psi(A)=\bigwedge^k A$$ >Is the image of $\psi$ closed in the standard topology on the $\text{Hom}$-space? I know that $\psi(\text{GL}(V)) $ is closed in $ \text{GL}(\bigwedge^{k}V)$ but this does not seem to help. (This follows from the fact $\psi|_{\text{GL}(V)}$ is a morphism of algebraic groups. There is also a simple direct argument [here][2]). ____ I think this question is equivalent to the following question: >Do there exist polynomial relations which **characterize** the $k$-minors of a square $d \times d$ matrix over $\mathbb{R}$? i.e. is $\psi(\text{Hom}(V,V))$ the zero set of some polynomials defined on $\text{Hom}(\bigwedge^kV,\bigwedge^kV)$? (By "**characterizing**" I mean *necessary and sufficient* conditions for a given sequence of numbers to be the minors of some matrix. See an explicit statement below). It seems that finding *explicit* relations is an open problem, e.g. see [this paper][1]. However, I am not asking about an explicit construction, only on mere existence. _____ Here is a more concrete phrasing: Let $b_{(i_1,\dots,i_k),(j_1,\dots,j_k)} \in \mathbb{R}$, where $(i_1,\dots,i_k),(j_1,\dots,j_k)$ are increasing multi-indices of order $k$ ( $1 \le i_1 <i_2 < \dots<i_k\le d$). >Are there necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a $d \times d$ matrix $A$, such that $ b_{(i_1,\dots,i_k),(j_1,\dots,j_k)}$ is the $k$-minor of $A$, corresponding to rows $(i_1,\dots,i_k)$, and to columns $(j_1,\dots,j_k)$? In "conditions" I mean here a set of continuous functions $\{ f_{\lambda} \}$ in the $\binom{d}{k}^2$ variables $b_{(i_1,\dots,i_k),(j_1,\dots,j_k)}$ such that the $b_{(i_1,\dots,i_k),(j_1,\dots,j_k)}$ are minors if and only if $ f_{\lambda} (b_{(i_1,\dots,i_k),(j_1,\dots,j_k)})=0$ for every $ f_{\lambda} $. [1]:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001870813001606 [2]:https://math.stackexchange.com/a/2777068/104576