On the convexity of general inverse \(\sigma_k\) equations (Q6108676)

Let \((M^n,\omega)\) be a compact Kähler manifold. Consider the type of equation \[ \chi^n=\sum_{k=0}^{n-1}c_k\binom{n}{k}\chi^k\wedge\omega^{n-k}, \] where \(c_k\) is some real function and \(\chi\) is a differential form assumed to be in some specified Chern class. Examples of equations of this type include the complex Monge-Ampère equation, the J-equation, and the deformed Hermitian-Yang-Mills equation. By simultaneously diagonalizing \(\chi\) and \(\omega\) at a point, we may transform this equation into the so-called general inverse \(\sigma_k\) equation \[ f\left(\lambda\right):=\sigma_n\left(\lambda\right)-\sum_{k=0}^{n-1}c_k\sigma_k\left(\lambda\right)=0, \] on \(\mathbb{R}^n\), where \(\sigma_k\) is the \(k\)-th elementary symmetric polynomial and \(c_k\in\mathbb{R}\). This paper concentrates on the convexity of the level sets of such an equation. Let \(\Gamma_f^n\) denote a connected component of \(\{f>0\}\). It is called \(\Upsilon\)-stable if it is contained in some translation of the positive orthant. Let \(\Gamma_f^{n-1}\subseteq\mathbb{R}^{n-1}\) be the projection of \(\Gamma_f^n\) onto its first \(n-1\) coordinates, and \(\Upsilon_1\subseteq\mathbb{R}^n\) be the largest set that is invariant under permutation of coordinates and whose image under the projection onto its first \(n-1\) coordinates is contained in \(\Gamma_f^{n-1}\). \(\Gamma_f^n\) is said to be strictly \(\Upsilon\)-stable if it is \(\Upsilon\)-stable and its boundary is contained in \(\Upsilon_1\). The author shows (Theorem 1.1) that strict \(\Upsilon\)-stability implies convexity. However, it is still unknown whether strict convexity (in the sense that the Hessian of the boundary as a graph is positive-definite) is implied. While in general it is not easy to verify (strict) \(\Upsilon\)-stability, the author provides a Positivstellensatz-type result (Theorem 1.2), which makes it easy to check (strict) \(\Upsilon\)-stability. More precisely, let \(p\) be a univariate real polynomial of degree \(n\). Let \(x_k\) denote the largest root of its \(k\)-th order derivative. The polynomial \(p\) is said to be right-Noetherian if \(x_k\) decreases in \(k\). It is strictly right-Noetherian if in addition \(x_0>x_1\). The Positivstellensatz states that the existence of an \(\Upsilon\)-stable (resp. strictly \(\Upsilon\)-stable) connected component \(\Gamma_f^n\) is equivalent to the diagonal restriction \(r_f(x):=f(x,\ldots,x)\) being right-Noetherian (resp. strictly right-Noetherian). Note that if \(p\) is right-Noetherian then \(p\) is log concave on \((x_0,+\infty)\). Another Positivstellensatz-type result (Theorem 1.3) concerns set inclusion. For two \(\Upsilon\)-stable general inverse \(\sigma_k\) type multilinear polynomials \(f\) and \(g\), let \(x_k\) (resp. \(y_k\)) be the largest root of \(f^{(k)}\) (resp. \(g^{(k)}\)). Then \(\Gamma_g^n\subseteq\Gamma_f^n\) if and only if \(y_k\geq x_k\) for \(0\leq k\leq n-1\). The author concludes with some applications, namely the verification of convexity of general inverse \(\sigma_k\) equations of degree at most 4, with non-negative coefficients, and the deformed Hermitian-Yang-Mills equation with supercritical phase.