Smooth points on semi-algebraic sets (Q2100053)

Let \(S\) be a quasi-algebraic variety defined over the reals by polynomial equalities \(f_1=\dots=f_s=0\) and inequalities. The authors describe a method to determine when a connected component of \(S\) contains smooth points of the complex variety \(V\) associated with \((f_1,\dots,f_s)\). The existence of smooth points of \(V\) in a component \(\Omega\subset S\) is relevant to decide if one can use the geometry of \(V\) in order to find some information on \(\Omega\), like its dimension, or the number of points of \(\Omega\) which lie in some model. The method illustrated by the authors is based on the construction, from the Jacobian matrix of \(f_1,\dots,f_s\), of a polynomial \(g\) which vanishes on the singular locus of \(V\), but not on the whole \(V\). When \(V\) is irreducible, the extremal points of \(g\) provide a smooth point in every connected component of \(V\cap \mathbb R^n\). The authors adapt the method to the case where \(V\) has many components, possibly of different dimensions. The method is implemented by using homotopy continuation algorithms, and tested in several examples, compared with purely symbolic techniques.