The computational complexity of the Chow form

We present a bounded probability algorithm for the computation of the Chow forms of the equidimensional components of an algebraic variety. Its complexity is polynomial in the length and in the geometric degree of the input equation system defining the variety. In particular, it provides an alternative algorithm for the equidimensional decomposition of a variety. As an application we obtain an algorithm for the computation of a subclass of sparse resultants, whose complexity is polynomial in the dimension and the volume of the input set of exponents. As a further application, we derive an algorithm for the computation of the (unique) solution of a generic over-determined equation system.Comment: 60 pages, Latex2

Representation theory and projective geometry

We give an elementary introduction to our papers relating the geometry of rational homogeneous varieties to representation theory. We also describe related work and recent progress.Comment: 37 pages with picture

Algorithmic Algebraic Geometry and Flux Vacua

We develop a new and efficient method to systematically analyse four dimensional effective supergravities which descend from flux compactifications. The issue of finding vacua of such systems, both supersymmetric and non-supersymmetric, is mapped into a problem in computational algebraic geometry. Using recent developments in computer algebra, the problem can then be rapidly dealt with in a completely algorithmic fashion. Two main results are (1) a procedure for calculating constraints which the flux parameters must satisfy in these models if any given type of vacuum is to exist; (2) a stepwise process for finding all of the isolated vacua of such systems and their physical properties. We illustrate our discussion with several concrete examples, some of which have eluded conventional methods so far.Comment: 41 pages, 4 figure

Elimination for generic sparse polynomial systems

We present a new probabilistic symbolic algorithm that, given a variety defined in an n-dimensional affine space by a generic sparse system with fixed supports, computes the Zariski closure of its projection to an l-dimensional coordinate affine space with l < n. The complexity of the algorithm depends polynomially on combinatorial invariants associated to the supports.Comment: 22 page

Cusp Points in the Parameter Space of Degenerate 3-RPR Planar Parallel Manipulators

This paper investigates the conditions in the design parameter space for the existence and distribution of the cusp locus for planar parallel manipulators. Cusp points make possible non-singular assembly-mode changing motion, which increases the maximum singularity-free workspace. An accurate algorithm for the determination is proposed amending some imprecisions done by previous existing algorithms. This is combined with methods of Cylindric Algebraic Decomposition, Gr\"obner bases and Discriminant Varieties in order to partition the parameter space into cells with constant number of cusp points. These algorithms will allow us to classify a family of degenerate 3-RPR manipulators.Comment: ASME Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics (2012) 1-1