Polynomial Convexity

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xi

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2. Introduction

   Pages 1-70

3. Some General Properties of Polynomially Convex Sets

   Pages 71-120

4. Sets of Finite Length

   Pages 121-168

5. Sets of Class A₁

   Pages 169-216

6. Further Results

   Pages 217-276

7. Approximation

   Pages 277-350

8. Varieties in Strictly Pseudoconvex Domains

   Pages 351-376

9. Examples and Counterexamples

   Pages 377-414

10. Back Matter

    Pages 415-439

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This book is devoted to an exposition of the theory of polynomially convex sets.Acompact N subset of C is polynomially convex if it is de?ned by a family, ?nite or in?nite, of polynomial inequalities. These sets play an important role in the theory of functions of several complex variables, especially in questions concerning approximation. On the one hand, the present volume is a study of polynomial convexity per se, on the other, it studies the application of polynomial convexity to other parts of complex analysis, especially to approximation theory and the theory of varieties. N Not every compact subset of C is polynomially convex, but associated with an arbitrary compact set, say X, is its polynomially convex hull, X, which is the intersection of all polynomially convex sets that contain X. Of paramount importance in the study of polynomial convexity is the study of the complementary set X \ X. The only obvious reason for this set to be nonempty is for it to have some kind of analytic structure, and initially one wonders whether this set always has complex structure in some sense. It is not long before one is disabused of this naive hope; a natural problem then is that of giving conditions under which the complementary set does have complex structure. In a natural class of one-dimensional examples, such analytic structure is found. The study of this class of examples is one of the major directions of the work at hand.

• Complex analysis
• Convexity
• Pseudoconvexity
• convex hull
• functional analysis
• polynomial convexity
• polynomial hulls
• subharmonic function

From the reviews:

"The style is rigorous, elegant and clear, the exposition is beautiful. The book is an extremely important tool to every researcher interested in the subject, as it contains basic facts and therefore will remain a standard reference in the future and, moreover, it opens a perspective on further directions of research."—Zentralblatt Math

"This is an excellent … introductory book for researchers in complex function theory and approximation theory that certainly becomes one of the chief references for these topics. I think the importance and main techniques of how to use polynomial convexity as a standard tool is rather clear for the mentioned experts. … The book is highly recommended for every researcher and postgraduate student working in areas with intensive use of complex analysis, analytic varieties or approximation theory." (László Stachó, Acta Scientiarum Mathematicarum, Vol. 74, 2008)

“Polynomial convexity is an important concept in the theory of functions of several complex variables, especially for approximation. This excellent exposition of a rich theory presents the general properties of polynomially convex sets with attention to hulls of one-dimensional sets … . Together with the comprehensive bibliography and the numerous interesting historical remarks this book will serve as a standard reference for many years.” (F. Haslinger, Monatshefte für Mathematik, Vol. 156 (4), April, 2009)

• Department of Mathematics, University of Washington, Seattle, USA

  Edgar Lee Stout

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