The polynomial Pell equation (Q2566615)

The classic problem of Diophantine approximations consists in discovering good rational-\-numbered approximations of quadratic irrationalities of the form \(\sqrt d\), where \(d\) is a square-free natural number. This problem leads to the Pell equation \(x^2 - dy^2 = 1\) in whole integers \(x, y\). It turns out that you can acquire all solutions from a particular solution with \(x > 1\); furthermore you can obtain this solution with the help of the continued fraction expansion of \(\sqrt d\). In this paper the authors examine the corresponding problem for polynomials. Starting from a polynomial \(D \in\mathbb C[X]\), the question about the solvability of the equation \(P^2 - DQ^2 = 1\) in polynomials \(P, Q \in \mathbb C[X]\) is investigated. As a substantial aid the validity of the \(abc\)-conjecture for polynomials is used.