Computing Gröbner fans

Abstract

This paper presents algorithms for computing the Groebner fan of an arbitrary polynomial ideal. The computation involves enumeration of all reduced Groebner bases of the ideal. Our algorithms are based on a uniform definition of the Groebner fan that applies to both homogeneous and non-homogeneous ideals and a proof that this object is a polyhedral complex. We show that the cells of a Groebner fan can easily be oriented acyclically and with a unique sink, allowing their enumeration by the memory-less reverse search procedure. The significance of this follows from the fact that Groebner fans are not always normal fans of polyhedra in which case reverse search applies automatically. Computational results using our implementation of these algorithms in the software package Gfan are included.