Séparation de semi-algébriques. (Separation of semi-algebraic sets) (Q919056)

This paper is the consequence of a geometric attempt of the authors in order to prove a conjecture of Bröcker: ``A basic semi-algebraic open set of \(R^ n\) can be described by n strict inequalities'' (recently proved by deeply algebraic methods by Bröcker and Scheiderer). For the moment no geometric proof of this important result is known. In this paper, the problem of separation of semi-algebraic sets by polynomials is considered. It is known by Mostowski's work that it is impossible in general and that Nash functions are needed for that. The authors study the following question: supposing that there exist a polynomial f such that f(A-H) is positive and f(B-H) negative (A and B being two semi-algebraic open sets of a variety M, and H being a closed algebraic subset) does there exist a polynomial P such that P(A) is positive and P(B) negative? The authors give a positive answer when M is smooth and the boundaries of A and B verify natural conditions. They obtain partial results when M is singular and compact.