Skew fields of differential operators (Q1178324)

Let \(\Gamma\) be an algebraic curve over a field \(F\) of characteristic \(O\). The ring of differential operators on \(\Gamma\) (i.e. on the coordinate ring of \(\Gamma\)) is an Ore domain \(D(\Gamma)\) which is contained in the ring of differential operators of \(K=K(\Gamma)\), the field of rational functions on \(\Gamma\). This ring can be expressed as \(K[x;\delta]\) where \(\delta\) is any non-trivial \(F\)-derivation of K. It follows that the field of fractions of \(D(\Gamma)\) is \(K(x;\delta)\), the field of fractions of \(K[x;\delta]\). The authors show that the fields \(D_ i=K_ i(x;\delta_ i)\) corresponding to two curves \(\Gamma_ 1\) and \(\Gamma_ 2\) are \(F\)-isomorphic precisely when \(\Gamma_ 1\) and \(\Gamma_ 2\) are birationally equivalent, i.e. \(K_ 1\) and \(K_ 2\) are \(F\)-isomorphic. The proof of the sufficiency is quite straightforward; most of the paper is taken up with a proof of the necessity.