On the ranks and border ranks of symmetric tensors (Q972614)

The (Waring) ranks and the border ranks are studied for polynomials in the space \(S^d\mathbb{C}^n\) of the complex homogeneous polynomials of degree \(d\) in \(n\) variables. Standard facts about the rank and the border rank of polynomials are reviewed. A basic result (Theorem 1.3) is presented and the authors state that it provides the first new general lower bound on rank in about 100 years. Some lower bounds are derived for some cubic polynomials, monomials, determinant and permanent polynomials. An upper bound for the rank valid for an arbitrary variety is also obtained. An explicit list of normal forms and their ranks and border ranks is provided and the singularities of auxiliary geometric objects are used to determine the rank. A study of limiting secant planes is performed and it is used to classify the polynomials of border ranks up to five.