English

Computing Linear Matrix Representations of Helton-Vinnikov Curves

Algebraic Geometry 2013-12-03 v2 Computational Geometry Optimization and Control

Abstract

Helton and Vinnikov showed that every rigidly convex curve in the real plane bounds a spectrahedron. This leads to the computational problem of explicitly producing a symmetric (positive definite) linear determinantal representation for a given curve. We study three approaches to this problem: an algebraic approach via solving polynomial equations, a geometric approach via contact curves, and an analytic approach via theta functions. These are explained, compared, and tested experimentally for low degree instances.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1011.6057,
  title  = {Computing Linear Matrix Representations of Helton-Vinnikov Curves},
  author = {Daniel Plaumann and Bernd Sturmfels and Cynthia Vinzant},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1011.6057},
  year   = {2013}
}

Comments

19 pages, 3 figures, minor revisions; Mathematical Methods in Systems, Optimization and Control, Birkhauser, Basel

R2 v1 2026-06-21T16:49:57.105Z