Factors of \(E\)-operators with an \(\eta\)-apparent singularity at zero (Q2165746)

A \emph{\(G\)-operator} is a minimal differential operator \(L\in\overline{\mathbb{Q}}(z)[{\mathrm d}/{\mathrm d}z]\setminus\{0\}\) annihilating a non-zero \(G\)-function -- see [\textit{Y. André}, G-functions and geometry. Wiesbaden etc.: Friedr. Vieweg \&| Sohn (1989; Zbl 0688.10032); \textit{G. V. Chudnovsky}, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81, 7261--7265 (1984; Zbl 0566.10029); \textit{N. M. Katz}, Bull. Soc. Math. Fr. 110, 203--239 (1982; Zbl 0504.12022)]. The \emph{Fourier-Laplace} transform \(\hat{L}\in\overline{\mathbb{Q}}(z)[{\mathrm d}/{\mathrm d}z]\) of an operator \(L\in\overline{\mathbb{Q}}(z)[{\mathrm d}/{\mathrm d}z]\) is the image of \(L\) by the automorphism of the Weyl algebra \(\overline{\mathbb{Q}}(z)[{\mathrm d}/{\mathrm d}z]\) defined by \(z\mapsto -{\mathrm d}/{\mathrm d}z\) and \({\mathrm d}/{\mathrm d}z\mapsto z\). Following [\textit{Y. André}, Ann. Math. (2) 151, No. 2, 705--740 (2000; Zbl 1037.11049)], a differential operator \(L\in\overline{\mathbb{Q}}(z)[{\mathrm d}/{\mathrm d}z]\) is called an \emph{\(E\)-operator} if the Fourier-Laplace transform \(\hat{L}\in\overline{\mathbb{Q}}(z)[{\mathrm d}/{\mathrm d}z]\) is a \(G\)-operator. A differential operator is said to have an \emph{\(\eta\)-apparent singularity } at \(0\) for a parameter \(\eta\in\mathbb C\) if it has a basis of solutions at \(0\) all of the form \(z^\eta{\mathbb C}[[z]]\). \par Let \(L\in\overline{\mathbb{Q}}(z)[{\mathrm d}/{\mathrm d}z]\setminus\{0\}\) be an operator of order \(\mu\) which is a right--factor of an \(E\)-operator. Assume that \(L\) has an \(\eta\)-apparent singularity at \(z=0\) for a parameter \(\eta\in{\mathbb Q}\). The author proves that \(L\) has a \({\mathbb{C}}\)-basis of solutions given by \(Q_1(z) z^\eta {\mathrm e}^{\beta_1 z},\dots, Q_\mu(z) z^\eta {\mathrm e}^{\beta_\mu z}\), where \(\beta_1,\dots,\beta_\mu\) are algebraic numbers and \(Q_1,\dots, Q_\mu\) belong to \(\overline{\mathbb{Q}}[z]\setminus\{0\}\). If, further, \(L\) is of minimal order in \(\overline{\mathbb{Q}}(z)[{\mathrm d}/{\mathrm d}z]\) for one of its non-zero solution, then the \(\beta_j\) are pairwise distinct. For the case of an \(E\)-operator having an apparent singularity or no singularity at \(0\), see [the author and \textit{J. Roques}, Isr. J. Math. 220, No. 1, 275--282 (2017; Zbl 1430.11103)]. The author gives two applications of his result. The first one is a solution of the functional equation \(F(z)=\beta G(z+\alpha)\) with \(\beta\in{\mathbb{C}}\setminus\{0\}\), \(\alpha\in\overline{\mathbb{Q}}\setminus\{0\}\) and \(F\), \(G\) are two non-zero \(E\)-functions. The second one, suggested by \textit{Y. André}, is an irrationality result similar to the \emph{transcendence without transcendence} of [Ann. Math. (2) 151, No. 2, 741--756 (2000; Zbl 1037.11050)].