A general theory of André's solution algebras (Q2027762)

In differential Galois theory, \textit{Y. André} introduced the notion of solution algebras and proved a bijection to quasi-affine \(G\)-schemes where \(G\) is the Galois group of the differential equation [Ann. Sci. Éc. Norm. Supér. (4) 47, No. 2, 449--467 (2014; Zbl 1344.12001)]. These solution algebras are more general than the previously considered Picard-Vessiot rings as they are defined to be generated by one solution and not necessarily all solutions of a differential equation. In this paper, the authors provide a categorical framework in which they can define solution algebras and prove the analog of the mentioned bijection. The authors show that their framework specializes to André's work in the differential setting, and they also work out how their framework translates to difference equations and to iterative differential equations in positive characteristic. The categorical framework presented here is essentially the same as the one in [the reviewer, Theory Appl. Categ. 32, 488--525 (2017; Zbl 1388.13022)]. However, the authors omit general issues on existence and uniqueness of Picard-Vessiot rings which simplifies their presentation. On the other hand, general solution algebras don't show up in the reviewer's paper (loc. cit.). As an application of the theory of solution algebras in the difference setting, the authors reprove a theorem of Adamczewski-Faverjon [\textit{B. Adamczewski} and \textit{C. Faverjon}, Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. (3) 115, No. 1, 55--90 (2017; Zbl 1440.11132)] and Philippon [\textit{P. Philippon}, J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 92, No. 3, 596--614 (2015; Zbl 1391.11087)] on polynomial relations among special values of Mahler functions.