Solvability of difference Riccati equations by elementary operations (Q2902430)

In the same way as Liouvillian differential extensions are the foundation of the definition and proof of (un)solvability of ordinary differential equations by elementary operations, Franke introduced so-called qLE extensions to study the solvability of difference equations. (\textit{Caution !} The letter \(q\) in qLE has nothing to do with \(q\)-difference equations.) In this paper, the author proves the unsolvability of a general class of difference analogs to the Riccati equation. Then he applies his result to prove the unsolvability of \(q\)-Bessel and \(q\)-Airy equations in the generic case that \(q\) is transcendental over \(\mathbb{Q}\).