Topology of real algebraic space curves

Abstract

In this paper we give a new projection-based algorithm for computing the topology of a real algebraic space curve given implicitly by a set of equations. Under some genericity conditions, which may be reached through a linear change of coordinates, we show that a plane projection of the given curve, together with a special polynomial in the ideal of the curve contains all the information needed to compute its topological shape. Our method is also designed in such a way to exploit important particular cases such as complete intersection curves or curves contained in nonsingular surfaces.