Test sets for polynomials: \(n\)-universal subsets and Newton sequences (Q1706246)

Let \(E\) be a subset of a domain \(D\) having quotient field \(D\). A set \(S\subset E\) is called \(n\)-universal if for \(f\in K[X]\) with \(\deg f\leq n\) the inclusion \(f(S)\subset D\) implies \(f(E)\subset D\). If \(S\) is an \(n\)-universal set of \(n+1\) elements, then \(S\) is called \(n\)-optimal. A sequence \(a_1,\dots,a_n\) of elements of \(E\) is called a Newton sequence if the set \(\{a_1,\dots,a_k\}\) is \(k\)-optimal for every \(k\leq n\). The authors present several characterizations of these objects and develop their various properties, paying particular attention to the case when \(D\) is either a quasi-local domain or a Dedekind domain. They show in particular that in every Dedekind domain \(D\) the exists an infinite sequence \(a_1,a_2,\dots\) such that every set of \(n+2\) consecutive elements is an \(n\)-universal subset of \(D\).