Real Rational Curves in Grassmannians

Fulton asked how many solutions to a problem of enumerative geometry can be real, when that problem is one of counting geometric figures of some kind having specified position with respect to some general fixed figures. For the problem of plane conics tangent to five general conics, the (surprising) answer is that all 3264 may be real. Similarly, given any problem of enumerating p-planes incident on some general fixed subspaces, there are real fixed subspaces such that each of the (finitely many) incident p-planes are real. We show that the problem of enumerating parameterized rational curves in a Grassmannian satisfying simple (codimension 1) conditions may have all of its solutions be real.Comment: 9 pages, 1 eps figure, uses epsf.sty. Below the LaTeX source is a MAPLE V.5 file which computes an example in the paper, and its outpu

Some real and unreal enumerative geometry for flag manifolds

We present a general method for constructing real solutions to some problems in enumerative geometry which gives lower bounds on the maximum number of real solutions. We apply this method to show that two new classes of enumerative geometric problems on flag manifolds may have all their solutions be real and modify this method to show that another class may have no real solutions, which is a new phenomenon. This method originated in a numerical homotopy continuation algorithm adapted to the special Schubert calculus on Grassmannians and in principle gives optimal numerical homotopy algorithms for finding explicit solutions to these other enumerative problems.Comment: 19 pages, LaTeX-2e; Updated and final version. To appear in the issue of Michigan Mathematical Journal dedicated to Bill Fulto

An excursion from enumerative goemetry to solving systems of polynomial equations with Macaulay 2

Solving a system of polynomial equations is a ubiquitous problem in the applications of mathematics. Until recently, it has been hopeless to find explicit solutions to such systems, and mathematics has instead developed deep and powerful theories about the solutions to polynomial equations. Enumerative Geometry is concerned with counting the number of solutions when the polynomials come from a geometric situation and Intersection Theory gives methods to accomplish the enumeration. We use Macaulay 2 to investigate some problems from enumerative geometry, illustrating some applications of symbolic computation to this important problem of solving systems of polynomial equations. Besides enumerating solutions to the resulting polynomial systems, which include overdetermined, deficient, and improper systems, we address the important question of real solutions to these geometric problems. The text contains evaluated Macaulay 2 code to illuminate the discussion. This is a chapter in the forthcoming book "Computations in Algebraic Geometry with Macaulay 2", edited by D. Eisenbud, D. Grayson, M. Stillman, and B. Sturmfels. While this chapter is largely expository, the results in the last section concerning lines tangent to quadrics are new.Comment: LaTeX 2e, 22 pages, 1 .eps figure. Source file (.tar.gz) includes Macaulay 2 code in article, as well as Macaulay 2 package realroots.m2 Macaulay 2 available at http://www.math.uiuc.edu/Macaulay2 Revised with improved exposition, references updated, Macaulay 2 code rewritten and commente

Enumerative geometry for real varieties

We discuss the problem of whether a given problem in enumerative geometry can have all of its solutions be real. In particular, we describe an approach to problems of this type, and show how this can be used to show some enumerative problems involving the Schubert calculus on Grassmannians may have all of their solutions be real. We conclude by describing the work of Fulton and Ronga-Tognoli-Vust, who (independently) showed that there are 5 real plane conics such that each of the 3264 conics tangent to all five are real.Comment: Based upon the Author's talk at 1995 AMS Summer Research Institute in Algebraic geometry. To appear in the Proceedings. 11 pages, extended version with Postscript figures and appendix available at http://www.msri.org/members/bio/sottile.html, or by request from Author ([email protected]

Pieri-type formulas for maximal isotropic Grassmannians via triple intersections

We give an elementary proof of the Pieri-type formula in the cohomology of a Grassmannian of maximal isotropic subspaces of an odd orthogonal or symplectic vector space. This proof proceeds by explicitly computing a triple intersection of Schubert varieties. The decisive step is an explicit description of the intersection of two Schubert varieties, from which the multiplicities (which are powers of 2) in the Pieri-type formula are deduced.Comment: LaTeX 2e, 24 pages (9 pages is an appendix detailing the proof in the symplectic case). Expanded version of MSRI preprint 1997-06

Real enumerative geometry and effective algebraic equivalence

We describe an approach to the question of finding real solutions to problems of enumerative geometry, in particular the question of whether a problem of enumerative geometry can have all of its solutions be real. We give some methods to infer one problem can have all of its solutions be real, given that a related problem does. These are used to show many Schubert-type enumerative problems on some flag manifolds can have all of their solutions be real.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX 2

Enumerative Real Algebraic Geometry

Enumerative Geometry is concerned with the number of solutions to a structured system of polynomial equations, when the structure comes from geometry. Enumerative real algebraic geometry studies real solutions to such systems, particularly a priori information on their number. Recent results in this area have, often as not, uncovered new and unexpected phenomena, and it is far from clear what to expect in general. Nevertheless, some themes are emerging. This comprehensive article describe the current state of knowledge, indicating these themes, and suggests lines of future research. In particular, it compares the state of knowledge in Enumerative Real Algebraic Geometry with what is known about real solutions to systems of sparse polynomials.Comment: Revised, corrected version. 40 pages, 18 color .eps figures. Expanded web-based version at http://www.math.umass.edu/~sottile/pages/ERAG/index.htm