On the conjectures of Atiyah and Sutcliffe (Q431054)

In [Surv. Differ. Geom., Suppl. J. Differ. Geom. 7, 1--15 (2000; Zbl 1050.55502)], \textit{M. Atiyah} solved a problem that \textit{M. V. Berry} and \textit{J. M. Robbins} had posed in [Proc. R. Soc. Lond., Ser. A, 453, No. 1963, 1771--1790 (1997; Zbl 0892.46084)] in connection with their investigation of a certain problem in quantum physics. He suggested that a more elegant solution would be given if one could prove that a certain determinant is non-zero. This determinant, which assigns to every \(n\) distinct points \(x_1,\dots,x_n\) in \(\mathbb R^3\) a complex number \(D_n(x_1,\dots,x_n)\), was later refined in [\textit{M. Atiyah} and \textit{P. Sutcliffe}, Proc. R. Soc. Lond., Ser. A, Math. Phys. Eng. Sci. 458, No. 2021, 1089--1115 (2002; Zbl 1010.58015)], where three properties \(P_1\), \(P_2\), \(P_3\) of \(D_n\) were conjectured to hold for all \(n\) and where they were proved for \(n=3\). These conjectures are ordered according to strength in the sense that \(P_3 \Longrightarrow P_2 \Longrightarrow P_1\). In [Geom. Topol. 5, 885--893 (2001; Zbl 1002.51013)], \textit{M. Eastwood} and \textit{P. Norbury} proved \(P_1\) for \(n=4\). In [Publ. Inst. Math., Nouv. Sér. 72 (86), 23--28 (2002; Zbl 1138.51302)], \textit{D. Ž. Đoković} proved \(P_1\) for all \(n\) for certain configurations of the points \(x_1,\dots,x_n\). In the paper under review, the authors consider the case when \(x_1,\dots,x_n\) are the vertices of a regular \(n\)-gon, and establish \(P_2\) for this configuration. Then they consider the case when \(n=4\), and establish \(P_1\) when \(x_1,\dots,x_4\) are the vertices of a convex quadrilateral, and \(P_3\) when \(x_1,\dots,x_4\) are the vertices of an inscribed quadrilateral. In the course of this investigation, the authors are led to some interesting results and conjectures about tetrahedra and quadrilaterals. The mathematics of the paper and the problem it addresses and the problems that arose in the treatment of that problem are quite attractive. Having roots in physics, combining algebra and geometry, being so elementary, and being associated with the names of such well known scientists should only add to their beauty and significance.