On meromorphic parameterizations of real algebraic curves (Q657001)

Let \(f\in\mathbb R[\;x,\;y]\) be a polynomial with real coefficients and degree \(\leq 4\) which is irreducible in \(\mathbb C[\;x,\;y]\) and whose real locus \(\Gamma_{\mathbb R}=\{(x,y)\in\mathbb R^2:f(x,y)=0\}\) is one-dimensional. Suppose there exists an analytic map \[ I:=\alpha:(a,b)\to\Gamma_{\mathbb R},\, s\to(x(s),y(s)) \] parameterizing an arc of \(\Gamma_{\mathbb R}\) with unit speed, that is, \(\;x'(s)^2+\;y'(s)^2=1\) for all \(s\in I\). The main result of the paper under review states that if \(\alpha\) extends meromorphically to \(\mathbb C\), then \(\Gamma_{\mathbb R}\) is a line, a circle or a Bernoulli lemniscate. After, the author proves a more sophisticated result for curves of arbitrary degree satisfying additional assumptions. The article provides many examples, explicit computations and enlightening graphics.