Compactness criteria for real algebraic sets and Newton polyhedra (Q1756670)

The authors consider the problem of compactness and stable compactness of real algebraic sets, i.e. when does a real algebraic set remain compact under perturbation of coefficients of its defining polynomials. Let us take a real algebraic set \(V(p)\) given as the zero set of a multivariate polynomial \(p\). Theorem 3.10 provides a full characterization of stable compactness in terms of nonvanishing of quasi-homogeneous forms \(p_\Delta\) of the polynomial \(p\) which are leading with respect to weights given by faces \(\Delta\) of its Newton polyhedron at infinity. Note that any real algebraic set can be given by one equation on the sum of squares of its defining polynomials, hence the case of principal algebraic sets instantly gives sufficient conditions for stable compactness of arbitrary algebraic sets.