Positive trace polynomials and the universal Procesi-Schacher conjecture

Positivstellensatz is a fundamental result in real algebraic geometry providing algebraic certificates for positivity of polynomials on semialgebraic sets. In this article Positivstellens\"atze for trace polynomials positive on semialgebraic sets of $n\times n$ matrices are provided. A Krivine-Stengle-type Positivstellensatz is proved characterizing trace polynomials nonnegative on a general semialgebraic set $K$ using weighted sums of hermitian squares with denominators. The weights in these certificates are obtained from generators of $K$ and traces of hermitian squares. For compact semialgebraic sets $K$ Schm\"udgen- and Putinar-type Positivstellens\"atze are obtained: every trace polynomial positive on $K$ has a sum of hermitian squares decomposition with weights and without denominators. The methods employed are inspired by invariant theory, classical real algebraic geometry and functional analysis. Procesi and Schacher in 1976 developed a theory of orderings and positivity on central simple algebras with involution and posed a Hilbert's 17th problem for a universal central simple algebra of degree $n$: is every totally positive element a sum of hermitian squares? They gave an affirmative answer for $n=2$. In this paper a negative answer for $n=3$ is presented. Consequently, including traces of hermitian squares as weights in the Positivstellens\"atze is indispensable

Finsler's Lemma for Matrix Polynomials

Finsler's Lemma charactrizes all pairs of symmetric $n \times n$ real matrices $A$ and $B$ which satisfy the property that $v^T A v>0$ for every nonzero $v \in \mathbb{R}^n$ such that $v^T B v=0$. We extend this characterization to all symmetric matrices of real multivariate polynomials, but we need an additional assumption that $B$ is negative semidefinite outside some ball. We also give two applications of this result to Noncommutative Real Algebraic Geometry which for $n=1$ reduce to the usual characterizations of positive polynomials on varieties and on compact sets.Comment: 23 pages, 2 figures, submitte