On polynomial submersions of degree 4 and the real Jacobian conjecture in \(\mathbb{R}^2\) (Q302016)

The authors prove a version of the real Jacobian conjecture: Let \(F=(p,q): \mathbb{R}^{2}\mathbb{\rightarrow R}^{2}\) be a polynomial mapping such that \( DF(x,y)\neq 0\) for each \((x,y)\in \mathbb{R}^{2}.\) If \(\deg p\leq 4\) then \(F\) is injective. This theorem generalizes the results by \textit{J. Gwoździewicz} [Ann. Pol. Math. 76, No. 1--2, 121--125 (2001; Zbl 0990.14023)] (the assumption \(\deg p,\deg q\leq 3\)) and \textit{F. Braun} and \textit{J. R. Dos Santos Filho} [Discrete Contin. Dyn. Syst. 26, No. 1, 75--87 (2010; Zbl 1181.14067)] (the assumption \(\deg p\leq 3\)). In the proof they completely classify polynomial submersions \(p: \mathbb{R}^{2}\mathbb{\rightarrow R}\) of degree \(4\) whose level sets are not all connected (up to the affine changes of coordinates in the domain and in the range).