The Segre Determinant

Abstract

The Segre determinant is a polynomial which encodes the condition for points to lie on a bilinear hypersurface in the product of projective spaces. We study Segre determinants and compute them in various coordinate systems. We show that the Segre determinant represents the Chow-Lam form of a generic torus orbit in the Grassmannian. These Chow-Lam forms were introduced as a generalization of Chow forms for projective varieties, and enjoy many similar properties. We also present applications to algebraic vision and to Chow quotients of Grassmannians.