Linear optimization on varieties and Chern-Mather classes

Abstract

The linear optimization degree gives an algebraic measure of complexity of optimizing a linear objective function over an algebraic model. Geometrically, it can be interpreted as the degree of a projection map on the affine conormal variety. Fixing an affine variety, our first result shows that the geometry of this conormal variety, expressed in terms of bidegrees, completely determines the Chern-Mather classes of the given variety. We also show that these bidegrees coincide with the linear optimization degrees of generic affine sections.