Factorization of Quasi-Differential Operators (Q3974461)

Given an array \(A=[a^ j_ i]\) of complex valued functions on an interval, the \(k\)-th quasi-derivative \(u^{[k]}\) of a function \(u\) on the interval is defined inductively by mixing arithmetic and differentiation in the following way: \(a^ 0_ 1u^{[0]}=u\), and if \(k\geq 1\), \[ a^ k_{k+1}u^{[k]}=(u^{[k-1]})'-\sum^ k_ 1 a^ i_ ku^{[i-1]}. \] If \(A\) is chosen a certain way this is ordinary differentiation. Generalizing a result of Zettl for ordinary differential operators, the quasi-differential version of an \(n\)-th order linear ordinary differential operator is shown to be factorable if a certain condition involving the quasi-Wronskian of a system of solutions to homogeneous equations holds.