Certificates of convexity for basic semi-algebraic sets

We provide two certificates of convexity for arbitrary basic closed semi-algebraic sets of R(n). The first one is based on a necessary and sufficient condition whereas the second one is based on a sufficient (but simpler) condition only. Both certificates are obtained from any feasible solution of a related semidefinite program and so, in principle, can be obtained numerically (however, up to machine precision). (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.