Quadratic factors of \(f(X)-g(Y)\) (Q2465614)

\textit{Y. Bilu} [Acta Arith. 90, No. 4, 341--355 (1999; Zbl 0935.12003)] classified the pairs of polynomials \(f, g\) over a field of characteristic \(0\) such that \(f (X)- g(Y)\) has an irreducible factor of degree \(2.\) In the present paper the authors extend this result to arbitrary characteristic. The proofs depend on standard Galois theory arguments, on Lüroth's theorem and on ideas of [\textit{G. Turnwald}, Number theory in progress. Volume 1: Diophantine problems and polynomials. Berlin: de Gruyter, 539--552 (1999; Zbl 0942.11046)].