Foci and foliations of real algebraic curves (Q931306)

Let \(\Gamma\) be a real algebraic curve in the complex projective plane \(\mathbb C\mathbb{P}^2\): the foci of \(\Gamma\) are defined to be the real points of \(\mathbb CP^2\) lying on the isotropic tangent lines to \(\Gamma\). This classical definition, generalizing the one of foci of a conic, goes back to \textit{J. Plücker} [Gesammelte Mathematische Abhandlungen, vol.1 (1895; JFM 26.0020.02)], and has since be considered by several authors, who gave many geometric interpretations of foci. Here the authors give a nice overview of this topic, thus providing, as they say, ``a unified context for a number of points which are not well covered, if at all, in more specialized treatments''. For instance, given a \(n\times n\) complex matrix \(A\), its eigenvalues can be seen as the foci of \(\Gamma\), the curve of class \(n\) whose convex hull is \(F(A)\), the field of values of the sesquilinear form associated to \(A\). The curves arising in this way are completely described. The Schwarz function \(S_\gamma\) and the Schwarz reflection \(R_\gamma\) of a real curve \(\gamma\subset \mathbb R^2\) are introduced and it is shown that \(R_\gamma\) interchanges branch points and critical points of \(S_\gamma\): the first ones are precisely the foci of \(\Gamma\), the projective complex curve associated to \(\gamma\), whereas the second ones are the defoci of \(\gamma\), a sort of dual notion of foci. The last part of the article is devoted to studying the canonical foliation of a curve \(\gamma\), showing in particular that its singularities project to the foci and the defoci of \(\gamma\). The article contains several explicit examples and pictures, well illustrating the theory.