Positive polynomials and tame preorderings (Q5947773)

One of the most classical and basic problems in real algebra is the description of the polynomials \(P\in \mathbb{R}[X_1,\dots, X_n]\) that are positive or nonnegative on some basic closed semi-algebraic set, i.e., on a finite intersection of sets of the form \(S(f)= \{x\in\mathbb{R}^n\mid f(x)\geq 0\}\), \(f\in \mathbb{R}[X_1,\dots, X_n]\). There are many variations and generalizations of this problem, and the literature contains a large number of Positivstellensätze and Nichtnegativstellensätze that provide answers. The authors study whether and how orderings and preorderings of higher level can be used to recognize positive polynomials. A preordering is said to be of higher level \(n\) if it contains all \(2n\)th powers in the ring. A valuation fan in a field is tame if it is contained in a total order. Order fans are valuation fans and are always tame; every tame valuation fan is an intersection of order fans. Tame preorderings are intersections of tame valuation fans. These notions are extended to rings with preorderings. A Positivstellensatz and a Nichtnegativstellensatz are proved for a ring with a tame preordering of higher level. Any preordering \(T\) of the ring \(A\) can be extended to the preordering \(T_1=\bigcap\alpha\) where \(\alpha\) varies in the real spectrum of \((A,T)\). Under suitable hypotheses, a tame preordering \(T\) of some level \(n\) is Archimedean if and only if the extended preordering \(T_1\) is Archimedean. A Positivstellensatz is proved in case \(T\) is a tame preordering for which \(T_1\) is Archimedean. If \(A\) is an affine algebra over a subfield \(K\) of the real numbers, \textit{K. Schmüdgen's} Positivstellensatz [The \(K\)-moment problem for compact semi-algebraic sets, Math. Ann. 289, No. 2, 203--206 (1991; Zbl 0744.44008)] is extended to preorderings of higher level. The polynomials that are positive definite on an arbitrary intersection of sets \(S(f)\) are characterized in terms of tame preorderings.