The differential rank of a differential-valued field (Q2312826)

Let \(K\) be a field with a valuation \(v\) and a derivation \(D\). Denote by \(O_v\) the valuation ring of \((K, v)\), and by \(M_v\) and \(U_v\) the maximal ideal of \(O_v\). The triple \((K, v, D)\) is called a differential-valued field (briefly, a DV-field), if the following is satisfied: \begin{itemize} \item[(DV1)] \(O_v = M_v + C\), where \(C\) is the field of constants of \((K, D)\); \item[(DV2)] If \(a \in O_v\), \(b \in M_v\) and \(b \neq 0\), then \(v(D(a)) > v(D(b)/b)\). \end{itemize} If \((K, v, D)\) only satisfies (DV2), then it is said to be a pre-DV-field. By a pre-\(H\)-field, we mean a valued ordered differential field \((K, v, \le, D)\) such that: \begin{itemize} \item[(PH1)] \((K, v, D)\) is a pre-DV-field; \item[(PH2)] \(O_v\) is \(\le \)-convex; \item[(PH3)] for all \(a \in K\), \(a > O_v\), we have \(D(a) > 0\). \end{itemize} An \(H\)-field means an ordered differential field \((K, \le, D)\) such that: \begin{itemize} \item[(H1)] \((K, v, \le, D)\) is a pre-\(H\)-field, where \(O_v := \{a \in K: \exists c \in C, \vert a\vert \le c\}\); \item[(H2)] \(O_v = C + M_v\).\end{itemize} The notion an \(H\)-field extends the one of a Hardy field (see [\textit{G. H. Hardy}, Orders of infinity. The ``Infinitärcalcül'' of Paul du Bois-Reymond. 2nd edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (1924; JFM 50.0153.04)]. This notion and the weaker one of a pre-\(H\)-field have been introduced by \textit{M. Aschenbrenner} and \textit{L. van den Dries} [Math. Z. 242, No. 3, 543--588 (2002; Zbl 1066.12002); see also J. Pure Appl. Algebra 197, No. 1--3, 83--139 (2005; Zbl 1134.12004)]. They have shown that any pre-\(H\)-field can be embedded in an \(H\)-field. \(H\)-fields play a major role in the theory of transseries and in the model-theoretic study of Hardy fields (see [\textit{M. Aschenbrenner} et al., Asymptotic differential algebra and model theory of transseries. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press (2017; Zbl 1430.12002)]). A considerable part of the study of \(H\)-fields in the paper under review relies on the notion of an asymptotic couple (introduced by \textit{M. Rosenlicht} [Pac. J. Math. 86, 301--319 (1980; Zbl 0401.12024)]), which is a pair \((G, \psi)\) consisting of an ordered abelian group \(G\) and a map \(\psi: G^{\neq 0} \to G\) satisfying the following: \begin{itemize} \item[(AC1)] \(\psi(g + h) \ge \min(\psi(g), \psi(h))\), for any \(g, h\); \item[(AC2)] \(\psi(ng) = \psi(g)\), for any \(g \in G\), \(n \in \mathbb N\); \item[(AC3)] \(\psi(g) < \psi(h) + |h|\), for any \(g, h \in G^{\neq 0}\); \end{itemize} We say that \((G, \psi)\) is a \(H\)-type asymptotic couple if, moreover, for any \(g, h \neq 0\) with \(g \le h < 0\), we have \(\psi(g) \le \psi(h)\). Asymptotic couples appear naturally as value groups of pre-DV-fields. The first goal of the paper under review is to introduce and study the differential rank of a differential valued field. The authors start by defining the general notions of \(\phi\)-rank and of principal \(\phi\)-rank of a valued field endowed with an arbitrary operator \(\phi\). The notion of a (principal) \(\phi\)-rank generalizes simultaneously the one of the (principal) exponential rank (defined in: [\textit{S. Kuhlmann}, Ordered exponential fields. Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society (AMS) (2000; Zbl 0989.12003)]) and that of the (principal) difference rank defined in an earlier paper by Matusinski, Point, and the first author. One of the main results of the paper under review shows that the differential rank of a pre-DV-field \((K, v, D)\) equals the \(\psi\)-rank of the asymptotic couple \((G, \psi)\) associated to \((K, v, D)\) field. When \((G, \psi)\) is of \(H\)-type, the authors characterize the differential rank via the maps \(\phi\), \(\psi\) and the map \(\omega := \psi_{\Gamma}\) induced by \(\psi\) on the value chain \(\Gamma:= v_G(G^{\neq 0})\) of the value group \(v(K)\). Also, they fully determine under which conditions on a field \(k\) of zero characteristic and an \(H\)-type asymptotic couple \((G, \psi)\), one can define a derivation \(D\) on the generalized formal power series field \(K = k((G))\), such that \((K, v, D)\) is a DV-field or an \(H\)-field whose associated asymptotic couple is \((G, \psi)\). This is used for providing a partial answer to the following questions: Given an ordered abelian group \(G\) and a field \(k\) with \(\operatorname{char}(k) = 0\), under which conditions on \(k\) and \(G\) can one define a derivation on the field \(k((G))\) making it a DV-field? An \(H\)-field?