Foundations of invariant theory for the down operator (Q2437231)

The down operator \(D\) of the infinite polynomial ring \(R=k[x_0,x_1,\ldots]\) is the derivation, defined by the following rules: \(D(x_i)=x_{i-1}\) for \(i>0\) and \(D(x_0)=0\). Elements of the kernel of \(D\) are called invariants. In the paper under review a complete description of the cubic invariants of \(D\) is given over a field \(k\) of characteristic zero. A new family of counterexamples to Hilbert's Fourteenth Problem is constructed by means of \(D\).