Elementary recursive complexity results in real algebraic geometry (Women in Mathematics)

I shall discuss two important results in real algebraic geometry - quantifier elimination, proving that the projection of a semi-algebraic set is semi-algebraic - Hilbert 17th problem, proving that a non negative polynomial is always a sum of squares of rational functions from the point of view of effectivity and complexity. The two problems look at first sight totally un related at all but it turns out that modern computer algebra techniques play a key role in proving elementary recursive complexity results for both these problems

Polynomial Interrupt Timed Automata

Interrupt Timed Automata (ITA) form a subclass of stopwatch automata where reachability and some variants of timed model checking are decidable even in presence of parameters. They are well suited to model and analyze real-time operating systems. Here we extend ITA with polynomial guards and updates, leading to the class of polynomial ITA (PolITA). We prove the decidability of the reachability and model checking of a timed version of CTL by an adaptation of the cylindrical decomposition method for the first-order theory of reals. Compared to previous approaches, our procedure handles parameters and clocks in a unified way. Moreover, we show that PolITA are incomparable with stopwatch automata. Finally additional features are introduced while preserving decidability

Polar Varieties, Real Equation Solving and Data-Structures: The hypersurface case

In this paper we apply for the first time a new method for multivariate equation solving which was developed in \cite{gh1}, \cite{gh2}, \cite{gh3} for complex root determination to the {\em real} case. Our main result concerns the problem of finding at least one representative point for each connected component of a real compact and smooth hypersurface. The basic algorithm of \cite{gh1}, \cite{gh2}, \cite{gh3} yields a new method for symbolically solving zero-dimensional polynomial equation systems over the complex numbers. One feature of central importance of this algorithm is the use of a problem--adapted data type represented by the data structures arithmetic network and straight-line program (arithmetic circuit). The algorithm finds the complex solutions of any affine zero-dimensional equation system in non-uniform sequential time that is {\em polynomial} in the length of the input (given in straight--line program representation) and an adequately defined {\em geometric degree of the equation system}. Replacing the notion of geometric degree of the given polynomial equation system by a suitably defined {\em real (or complex) degree} of certain polar varieties associated to the input equation of the real hypersurface under consideration, we are able to find for each connected component of the hypersurface a representative point (this point will be given in a suitable encoding). The input equation is supposed to be given by a straight-line program and the (sequential time) complexity of the algorithm is polynomial in the input length and the degree of the polar varieties mentioned above.Comment: Late

Deciding Univariate Polynomial Problems Using Untrusted Certificates in Isabelle/HOL

We present a proof procedure for univariate real polynomial problems in Isabelle/HOL. The core mathematics of our procedure is based on univariate cylindrical algebraic decomposition. We follow the approach of untrusted certificates, separating solving from verifying: efficient external tools perform expensive real algebraic computations, producing evidence that is formally checked within Isabelle’s logic. This allows us to exploit highly-tuned computer algebra systems like Mathematica to guide our procedure without impacting the correctness of its results. We present experiments demonstrating the efficacy of this approach, in many cases yielding orders of magnitude improvements over previous methods.The first author was funded by the China Scholarship Council, via the CSC Cambridge Scholarship programme. The development of MetiTarski was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [Grant Numbers EP/I011005/1, EP/I010335/1]

Towards justifying computer algebra algorithms in Isabelle/HOL

As verification efforts using interactive theorem proving grow, we are in need of certified algorithms in computer algebra to tackle problems over the real numbers. This is important because uncertified procedures can drastically increase the size of the trust base and under- mine the overall confidence established by interactive theorem provers, which usually rely on a small kernel to ensure the soundness of derived results. This thesis describes an ongoing effort using the Isabelle theorem prover to certify the cylindrical algebraic decomposition (CAD) algorithm, which has been widely implemented to solve non-linear problems in various engineering and mathematical fields. Because of the sophistication of this algorithm, people are in doubt of the correctness of its implementation when deploying it to safety-critical verification projects, and such doubts motivate this thesis. In particular, this thesis proposes a library of real algebraic numbers, whose distinguishing features include a modular architecture and a sign determination algorithm requiring only rational arithmetic. With this library, an Isabelle tactic based on univariate CAD has been built in a certificate-based way: external, untrusted code delivers solutions in the form of certificates that are checked within Isabelle. To lay the foundation for the multivariate case, I have formalised various analytical results including Cauchy’s residue theorem and the bivariate case of the projection theorem of CAD. During this process, I have also built a tactic to evaluate winding numbers through Cauchy indices and verified procedures to count complex roots in some domains. The formalisation effort in this thesis can be considered as the first step towards a certified computer algebra system inside a theorem prover, so that various engineering projections and mathematical calculations can be carried out in a high-confidence framework

Real Algebraic Geometry With a View Toward Moment Problems and Optimization

Continuing the tradition initiated in MFO workshop held in 2014, the aim of this workshop was to foster the interaction between real algebraic geometry, operator theory, optimization, and algorithms for systems control. A particular emphasis was given to moment problems through an interesting dialogue between researchers working on these problems in finite and infinite dimensional settings, from which emerged new challenges and interdisciplinary applications