On the complex and real Hessian polynomials (Q979005)

The parabolic curve of the graph of a smooth function \(f:\mathbb{R}^2\to\mathbb{R}\) is the set \[ \{(p, f(p))\in\mathbb{R}^2\times\mathbb{R}: \text{Hess\,}f(p)= 0\}, \] where \(\text{Hess\,}f(p):= f_{xx}f_{yy}- f_{xy}^2\). In this case, the Hessian curve \(c\) of \(f- c:\text{Hess\,}f(x,y)= 0,\) -- is a plane curve which is the projection of the parabolic curve into the \(xy\)-plane along the \(z\)-axis. When \(f\) is a polynomial of degree \(n\) in two variables, \(\text{Hess\,}f\) is a polynomial of degree at most \(2n-4\), which means that the Hessian curve is an algebraic plane curve. The authors formulate two natural realization problems related to the Hessian of a polynomial: {\parindent6mm \begin{itemize}\item[(1)] Hessian curve realization problem. If an algebraic plane curve \(g(x,y)= 0\) in \(K^2\), where \(K=\mathbb{R}\) or \(\mathbb{C}\), is given, is this curve the Hessian curve of a polynomial \(f\in K^2\)? \item[(2)] Hessian polynomial realization problem. If \(g\in K(x,y)\) is given, does \(f\in K(x,y)\) exist such that \(\text{Hess\,}f= g\)? (If such \(f\) exists and \(K= \mathbb{C}\) (\(K=\mathbb{R}\)), then \(g\) is called a complex Hessian polynomial (real Hessian polynomial)). \end{itemize}} They solve above problems for the complex and real cases when the degree of the polynomials \(g\) is less or equal to three in the first problem and zero, one and two in the second problem. Some geometric interpretations are also given.