Calculating the Galois group of \(L_1(L_2(y))=0,\) \(L_1, L_2\) completely reducible operators (Q1295779)

The authors shows how to compute the Galois group of an operator of the form \(L_1\circ L_2\) were \(L_1\) and \(L_2\) are completely reducible and have rational function coefficients. They start from computing the Galois group of an equation of the form \(L(y)=b\) with \(L\) completely reducible. This corresponds to the case of \(L_1\circ L_2\) were \(L_1= D- b^r/b\). Then they show how one can reduce the general case to the above case, giving several examples. The following proposition plays a key role in the paper. Let \(k\) be a differential field of characteristic zero with algebraically closed field of constants \(C\), \(\Delta=k[D]\) be the ring of differential operators with coefficients in \(k\) and let \(L\in \Delta\), \(b\in k\). Proposition 2.1. The Galois group of \(L(y)=b\) is isomorphic to the semidirect product \(W \rtimes G_L\), of the Galois group \(G_L\) of \(L(y)=0\) and a vector group \(W\) (\(W\cong \mathbb{C}^n\) for some \(n\)). Furthermore, if \(L_1\in \Delta\) is a monic operator of maximal order satisfying (1) \(L_1(y)=b\) has a solution \(f_1\in k\), and (2) \(L= L_1\circ L_0\) for some \(L_0\in \Delta\), then \(W\) is \(G\)-isomorphic to the solution space of \(L_0\). In addition such an \(L_1\) is unique.