On the polynomial Wolff axioms

Abstract

We confirm a conjecture of Guth concerning the maximal number of $\delta$-tubes, with $\delta$-separated directions, contained in the $\delta$-neighborhood of a real algebraic variety. Modulo a factor of $\delta^{-\varepsilon}$, we also prove Guth and Zahl's generalized version for semialgebraic sets. Although the applications are to be found in harmonic analysis, the proof will employ deep results from algebraic and differential geometry, including Tarski's projection theorem and Gromov's algebraic lemma.