Polynomially convex sets whose union has nontrivial hull

Abstract

Several results concerning pairs of polynomially convex sets whose union is not even rationally convex are given. It is shown that there is no restriction on how two spaces can be embedded in some $\C^N$ so as to be polynomially convex but have nonrationally convex union. It is shown that there exist two disjoint polynomially convex Cantor sets in $\C^3$ whose union is not rationally convex. The analogous assertion for arcs is also established. As an application it is shown that every simple closed curve in $\C^N$, $N\geq 3$, can be approximated uniformly by locally polynomially convex simple closed curves that are not rationally convex.