Stratification of the fourth secant variety of Veronese variety via the symmetric rank

If $X\subset \mathbb{P}^n$ is a projective non degenerate variety, the $X$-rank of a point $P\in \mathbb{P}^n$ is defined to be the minimum integer $r$ such that $P$ belongs to the span of $r$ points of $X$. We describe the complete stratification of the fourth secant variety of any Veronese variety $X$ via the $X$-rank. This result has an equivalent translation in terms both of symmetric tensors and homogeneous polynomials. It allows to classify all the possible integers $r$ that can occur in the minimal decomposition of either a symmetric tensor or a homogeneous polynomial of $X$-border rank 4 (i.e. contained in the fourth secant variety) as a linear combination of either completely decomposable tensors or powers of linear forms respectively.Comment: In Press: Advances in Pure and Applied Mathematic

Curvilinear schemes and maximum rank of forms

We define the \emph{curvilinear rank} of a degree $d$ form $P$ in $n+1$ variables as the minimum length of a curvilinear scheme, contained in the $d$-th Veronese embedding of $\mathbb{P}^n$, whose span contains the projective class of $P$. Then, we give a bound for rank of any homogenous polynomial, in dependance on its curvilinear rank.Comment: Changed Questions 2 and 3. More detailed proof

On the X-rank with respect to linearly normal curves

In this paper we study the $X$-rank of points with respect to smooth linearly normal curves X\subset \PP n of genus $g$ and degree $n+g$. We prove that, for such a curve $X$, under certain circumstances, the $X$-rank of a general point of $X$-border rank equal to $s$ is less or equal than $n+1-s$. In the particular case of $g=2$ we give a complete description of the $X$-rank if $n=3,4$; while if $n\geq 5$ we study the $X$-rank of points belonging to the tangential variety of $X$

Minimal decomposition of binary forms with respect to tangential projections

Let $C\subset \mathbb{P}^n$ be a rational normal curve and let $\ell_O:\mathbb{P}^{n+1}\dashrightarrow \mathbb{P}^n$ be any tangential projection form a point $O\in T_AC$ where $A\in C$. Hence $X:= \ell_O(C)\subset \mathbb{P}^n$ is a linearly normal cuspidal curve with degree $n+1$. For any $P = \ell_O(B)$, $B\in \mathbb{P}^{n+1}$, the $X$-rank $r_X(P)$ of $P$ is the minimal cardinality of a set $S\subset X$ whose linear span contains $P$. Here we describe $r_X(P)$ in terms of the schemes computing the $C$-rank or the border $C$-rank of $B$.Comment: 7 page

On the dimension of contact loci and the identifiability of tensors

Let $X\subset \mathbb{P}^r$ be an integral and non-degenerate variety. Set $n:= \dim (X)$. We prove that if the $(k+n-1)$-secant variety of $X$ has (the expected) dimension $(k+n-1)(n+1)-1<r$ and $X$ is not uniruled by lines, then $X$ is not $k$-weakly defective and hence the $k$-secant variety satisfies identifiability, i.e. a general element of it is in the linear span of a unique $S\subset X$ with $\sharp (S) =k$. We apply this result to many Segre-Veronese varieties and to the identifiability of Gaussian mixtures $G_{1,d}$. If $X$ is the Segre embedding of a multiprojective space we prove identifiability for the $k$-secant variety (assuming that the $(k+n-1)$-secant variety has dimension $(k+n-1)(n+1)-1<r$, this is a known result in many cases), beating several bounds on the identifiability of tensors.Comment: 12 page

Varietà che parametrizzano forme e loro varietà delle secanti

National audienceVarieties parameterizing forms and their secant varietie