The canonical filtration by the slopes of a \(q\)-difference module and the associated graded module. (Q1890152)

The author presents the Newton polygon for a \(q\)-difference operator and for a \(q\)-difference module. The Newton polygon is constructed for a \(q\)-difference module and its intrinsic character is proved. The main ingredient is the Jordan-Hölder Theorem. The asymptotic behavior of this polygon with respect to the linear operations is described. Next, the author studies the sub-module of the maximum range of the given slope and shows the existence of the canonical filtration. This is a translation of the Birkhoff-Guenter factorization Theorem. The filtration and the associated graded module have some important properties regarding the linear operations.