Gale duality for complete intersections (Q931907)

The authors consider algebraic subvarieties \(X\subseteq\mathbb C^N\) that arise as intersections of an algebraic subtorus \(T\subseteq(\mathbb C^*)^N\) and a linear subspace \(L\subseteq\mathbb C^N\). These ingredients can be described by matrices over \(\mathbb Z\) or \(\mathbb C\), respectively. Since both subvarieties \(T\) and \(L\) can be described either by parametrization (via the standard torus or affine space, respectively), or by equations, \(X\) allows two mutually dual presentations. On the one hand, \(X\) equals a subvariety of \(T\) given by linear equations restricted to \(T\). Doing so, these equations turn into Laurent polynomials on \(T\). On the other, \(X\) can be understood as a subvariety of \(L\) cut out by monomials restricted to this linear subspace. The result is master functions on the complement of the hyperplane arrangement on \(L\) that is induced from the coordinate functions on the ambient \(\mathbb C^N\).