Polynomials constant on a hyperplane and CR maps of spheres (Q372162)

The authors prove the following result. Let \(n\geq2\) and let \(p\) be a polynomial with nonnegative coefficients of degree \(d\) in \(n\) dimensions such that \(p(x_1,\dots,x_n)=1\) whenever \(x_1+\dots+x_n=1\). Moreover, let \(N(p)\) be the number of nonzero coefficients of a polynomial \(p\). Then, for \(n=2\), \[ d\leq2N(p)-3 \] and, for \(n>2\), \[ d\leq\frac{N(p)-1}{n-1}. \] Moreover, when \(n=2\), the equality in the above formula can hold for any odd degree \(d\) and the right hand side can be exactly one larger than \(d\) for any even degree \(d\). When \(n>2\), then for every \(d\) there exist a polynomial \(p\) such that the equality in the above formula holds. This theorem generalizes the results obtained by \textit{J.~P.~D'Angelo, Š.~Kos} and \textit{E.~Riehl} in [J. Geom. Anal. 13, No. 4, 581--593 (2003; Zbl 1052.26016)] (case \(n=2\)) and by the authors in [Mosc. Math. J. 11, No. 2, 285--315 (2011; Zbl 1258.14068)] (case \(n=3\)). It also solves the problem posed by D'Angelo, who conjectured that inequality \[ d\leq\frac{N(p)-1}{n-1} \] holds for every \(n>2\).