Distinct distances on algebraic curves in the plane

Abstract

Let $P$ be a set of $n$ points in the real plane contained in an algebraic curve $C$ of degree $d$. We prove that the number of distinct distances determined by $P$ is at least $c_d n^{4/3}$, unless $C$ contains a line or a circle. We also prove the lower bound $c_d' \min(m^{2/3}n^{2/3}, m^2, n^2)$ for the number of distinct distances between $m$ points on one irreducible plane algebraic curve and $n$ points on another, unless the two curves are parallel lines, orthogonal lines, or concentric circles. This generalizes a result on distances between lines of Sharir, Sheffer, and Solymosi in arXiv:1302.3081.