On the topology of semi-algebraic functions on closed semi-algebraic sets (Q692601)

The paper under review is concerned with the topology of semialgebraic functions on closed semialgebraic sets. More specifically, let \(X\) be a closed semialgebraic set in \(\mathbb{R}^n\) and let \(f:\mathbb{R}^n\to\mathbb{R}\) be a \(C^2\) semialgebraic function such that \(f|_X\) has only a finite number of critical points. The main result of the paper relates the topology of \(X\) (as expressed by its Euler characteristic) to that of the links at infinity of the sets \(X\cap\{f *\alpha\}\), where \(*\) is \(\leq\), \(=\), or \(\geq\), and \(\alpha\in\mathbb{R}\), and the indices of the critical points of \(f|_X\) and \(-f|_X\). Since only standard properties of semialgebraic sets and mappings are used, the results of the paper apply, more generally, to any \(C^2\) definable function with a finite number of critical points on a closed definable set in an \textit{o}-minimal structure.