On semiconjugate rational functions (Q343524)

The paper deals with semiconjugate rational functions, i.e., rational functions \(A, B\) which satisfy \[ A \circ X = X \circ B\quad\text{for some rational function }X. \tag{*} \] The author writes \(A \leq B\) for rational functions \(A\) and \(B\) that satisfy (*). In the article it is mentioned that Equation (*) has much more solutions than the equation \(A \circ X = X \circ A\). This motivates the definition of an equivalence relation on the set of rational functions, denoted by \(A \sim B\). The author proves that unless \(B \sim A\) the relation \(A \leq B\) implies very strong restrictions on \(A\) and \(B\), which can be described in terms of orbifolds of non-negative Euler characteristic on the Riemann sphere. In other words, the author proves that if \(A\) and \(B\) is a pair of functions that satisfy (*), then either \(A\) can be obtained from \(B\) by a certain iterative process or (ii) \(A\) and \(B\) can be described in terms of orbifolds of non-negative Euler characteristic on the Riemann sphere.