Polynomial relations among principal minors of a \(4\times 4\)-matrix (Q2267458)

Let \(A\) be a complex \(n\times n\)-matrix, \(I\) a strictly ascending subsequence of \(1,\dots, n\), and denote by \(A_I\) the principal minor of \(A\) whose rows and columns are indexed by \(I\). If in addition \(A_{\Phi}= 1\), then \(A_*= (A_I)\) is a vector in \(\mathbb{C}^{2^n}\). The authors investigate the affine principal minor map \(\Phi_a: \mathbb{C}^{n^2}\to\mathbb{C}^{2^n}\), \(A\mapsto A_*\), and the projective principal minor map \(\Phi:\mathbb{C}^{n^2}\times\mathbb{C}^{n^2}\to \mathbb{C}^{2^n}\mapsto (A_I B_{[n]\setminus I})\), where \([n]\setminus I\) denotes the subsequence of \(1,\dots, n\) complementary to \(I\). We quote the main results: \(\text{Im\,}\Phi_a\) is an algebraic subvariety of \(\mathbb{C}^{2^n}\) whose dimension is \(n^2- n+ 1\). The image of \(\Phi\) is a closed affine cone in \(\mathbb{C}^{2^n}\), to be regarded as a projective variety in \(\mathbb{P}^{2^n- 1}= \mathbb{P}(\mathbb{C}^2\otimes\cdots\otimes \mathbb{C}^2)\); it is invariant under the natural action of \(\text{GL}_2(\mathbb{C})^n\). Resuming results found by various authors in the late 19th century, the authors construct for \(n= 4\) explicit polynomials of degree 12 that scheme-theoretically define \(\text{Im\,}\Phi_a\) and its projective closure \(\text{Im\,}\Phi\) in \(\mathbb{P}^{15}\).