Radical parametrization of algebraic curves and surfaces

Abstract

Parametrization of algebraic curves and surfaces is a fundamental topic in CAGD (intersections; offsets and conchoids; etc.) There are many results on rational parametrization, in particular in the curve case, but the class of such objects is relatively small. If we allow root extraction, the class of parametrizable objetcs is greatly enlarged (for example, elliptic curves can be parametrized with one square root). We will describe the basics and the state of the art of the problem of parametrization of curves and surfaces by radicals.