Horn's problem, Vinnikov curves, and the hive cone (Q1779060)

Let \(\alpha ,\beta ,\gamma \in \mathbb{R}^n\) ; if there are \((n\times n)\)-Hermitian matrices \(A,B,C\) such that \(A+B+ C =0\) and, respectively, eigenvalues \(\alpha ,\beta ,\gamma\), then Horn's additive problem is solvable for them. The singular values of a square complex matrix are the positive square roots of the eigenvalue of \(A^\ast A\); if \(\alpha, \beta ,\gamma \in (\mathbb{R}_+)^n\) are the singular values of \(A,B,C\) and \(ABC =1\), then Horn's multiplicative problem is solvable for them [\textit{W. Fulton}, Bull. Am. Math. Soc. 37, 209--249 (2000; Zbl 0994.15021)]. A theorem of \textit{A. Klyachko} [Linear Algebra Appl. 319, No.1--3, 37--59 (2000; Zbl 0980.15015)], reproved here in a different way, shows that exponentiation gives a diffeomorphism between solutions \((\alpha , \beta ,\gamma )\) of the additive and the multiplicative Horn's problem. A Vinnikov curve is a projective plane curve of the form \(\det (xX+yY+zZ) = 0\) with \(X,Y,Z\) positive definite Hermitian matrices. \textit{V. Vinnikov} [Math. Ann. 296, 453--479 (1993; Zbl 0789.14029)] gave a classification of them in terms of the topology of their real points. The main result of the very nice paper under review is an almost characterization of these curves in terms of hives (special combinatorial objects given by certain inequalities). Theorem. Let \(F=\sum F_{ijk}(t) x^i y^j z^k\) be a Vinnikov curve, and define \(h_{ijk}=l(F_{ijk})\), where \(l\) is the leading coefficient of the Puiseux series. Then \(h\) is a hive, and if \(h\) is a strict hive, then \(F\) is a Vinnikov curve. The main tool of the proof is Viro's patchworking method.