On distinct distances between a variety and a point set (Q2161208)

Summary: We consider the problem of determining the number of distinct distances between two point sets in \(\mathbb{R}^2\) where one point set \(\mathcal{P}_1\) of size \(m\) lies on a real algebraic curve of fixed degree \(r\), and the other point set \(\mathcal{P}_2\) of size \(n\) is arbitrary. We prove that the number of distinct distances between the point sets, \(D (\mathcal{P}_1,\mathcal{P}_2)\), satisfies \[ D(\mathcal{P}_1, \mathcal{P}_2) = \begin{cases} \Omega(m^{1/2}n^{1/2}\log^{-1/2}n), \quad & \text{when}\,\, m = \Omega(n^{1/2}\log^{-1/3}n), \\ \Omega(m^{1/3}n^{1/2}), \quad & \text{when}\,\, m =O(n^{1/2}\log^{-1/3}n). \end{cases}\] This generalizes work of Pohoata and Sheffer, and complements work of Pach and de Zeeuw.