Hyperbolic polynomials and generalized Clifford algebras (Q741604)

The text is suitable for graduate students and researchers in algebraic geometry. It begins by introducing hyperbolicity cones of homogeneous polynomials, definite determinantal representations, the notion of spectrahedra and the generalized Lax conjecture. The second section defines generalized Clifford algebras of hyperbolic homogenous polynomials. The main result is a theorem relating that \(-1\) is not a sum of squares in the generalized Clifford algebra and the spectrahedral property. This is followed by a theorem relating a positive trace functional with the spectrahedral property. Traces are in turn related to determinantal representations. Finally, several computational aspects are explained and the paper concludes with a list of open questions surrounding the generalized Lax conjecture.