Sums of squares on real algebraic curves (Q1434521)

The author investigates the problem of presentation of non-negative polynomial functions on a real affine algebraic variety as sums of squares. First he establishes a local-global criterion for such presentations. Later he specializes to the case of curves and classifies irreducible curves on which every non-negative polynomial is a sum of squares. Finally \textit{K. Schmüdgen}'s solution of the \(K\)-moment problem for compact \(K\) [Math. Ann. 289, 203--206 (1991; Zbl 0744.44008)] is extended for \(K\) of dimension one and virtually compact.