Differential-algebraic decision methods and some applications to system theory (Q1194323)

This paper is divided in two parts. The first one (sections 1-4 of the paper) consists of a survey of standard results of differential algebra as developed by \textit{E. R. Kolchin} in his book [Differential algebra and algebraic groups (1973; Zbl 0264.12102)]. The author focusses on the notion of characteristic sets of a differential ideal and the application of this notion in some decision procedures in differential algebra. In the second part (section 5 of the paper) the author relates some classical notions in system theory (realization, irreducibility, observability, universal external trajectories and invertibility) to classical notions of differential algebra. In this way, he obtains a new test of observability for a system based on the construction of a characteristic set (for the defining differential ideal of the system).