Geometrical model theory (Q1129849)

There is a quotation at the beginning of this paper, mentioning the A. Robinson address to the ICM in 1950. According to it, ``contemporary Symbolic Logic can produce useful tools \dots{} for the development of Algebra and, it would appear, of Algebraic Geometry''. And actually the whole paper aims to explain how the recent progress in Model Theory has provided new notions and techniques leading to significant applications in Algebraic Geometry, mainly in Diophantine Geometry. The paper surveys and discusses these concepts and techniques, as well as their geometric consequences. Owing to the features of these applications, the analysis is restricted to the finite dimensional case (so finite Morley rank, \(S1\)-rank). In this setting a paradigm is provided by compact analytic spaces. The author firstly deals with these structures to introduce the main theoretical notions and tools (minimal and semiminimal spaces, dimension, orthogonality, modularity, trichotomy theorem, and so on). Then the general theory is developed. Finally, other significant applications are discussed (ordinary differential equations, difference equations, quasi-finite structures). The exposition is wide, deep and illuminating; it illustrates the expanse of the new horizons opened by Model Theory, and the strength of its techniques, according to A. Robinson's expectations.