Osculating Geometry and Higher-Order Distance Loci
Fuente:
arXiv
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2025
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1866910051059367936 |
|---|---|
| author | Di Rocco, Sandra Rose, Kemal Sodomaco, Luca |
| author_facet | Di Rocco, Sandra Rose, Kemal Sodomaco, Luca |
| contents | We discuss the problem of optimizing the distance function from a given point, subject to polynomial constraints. A key algebraic invariant that governs its complexity is the Euclidean distance degree, which pertains to first-order tangency. We focus on the data locus of points possessing at least one critical point of the distance function that is normal to a higher-order osculating space. We study the higher-order distance degree of a morphism as an intersection-theoretic invariant involving jet bundles and higher-order polar loci. Our approach builds on foundational definitions and results developed by Piene, particularly regarding higher-order polar loci. We give closed formulas for generic maps, Veronese embeddings, and toric embeddings. We place particular emphasis on the Bombieri-Weyl metric, revealing that the chosen metric profoundly influences both the degree and birationality of the higher-order projection maps. Additionally, we introduce a tropical framework that represents these degrees as stable intersections with Bergman fans, facilitating effective combinatorial computation in toric settings. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_02823 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Osculating Geometry and Higher-Order Distance Loci Di Rocco, Sandra Rose, Kemal Sodomaco, Luca Algebraic Geometry We discuss the problem of optimizing the distance function from a given point, subject to polynomial constraints. A key algebraic invariant that governs its complexity is the Euclidean distance degree, which pertains to first-order tangency. We focus on the data locus of points possessing at least one critical point of the distance function that is normal to a higher-order osculating space. We study the higher-order distance degree of a morphism as an intersection-theoretic invariant involving jet bundles and higher-order polar loci. Our approach builds on foundational definitions and results developed by Piene, particularly regarding higher-order polar loci. We give closed formulas for generic maps, Veronese embeddings, and toric embeddings. We place particular emphasis on the Bombieri-Weyl metric, revealing that the chosen metric profoundly influences both the degree and birationality of the higher-order projection maps. Additionally, we introduce a tropical framework that represents these degrees as stable intersections with Bergman fans, facilitating effective combinatorial computation in toric settings. |
| title | Osculating Geometry and Higher-Order Distance Loci |
| topic | Algebraic Geometry |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.02823 |