Constructing separable Arnold snakes of Morse polynomials

Abstract

We give a new and constructive proof of the existence of a special class of univariate polynomials whose graphs have preassigned shapes. By definition, all the critical points of a Morse polynomial function are real and distinct and all its critical values are distinct. Thus we can associate to it an alternating permutation: the so-called Arnold snake, given by the relative positions of its critical values. We realise any separable alternating permutation as the Arnold snake of a Morse polynomial.