No label defined (Q4227345)

Let \(F\) be an ordinary differential field (characteristic zero). The authors discuss the homogeneous differential polynomials of degree \(d\), which have a natural vector space structure over the field \(F\). Let \(\tau\) be a dimension of this vector space. \textit{W. M. Schmidt} [Monatsh. Math. 87, 145-165 (1979; Zbl 0401.10045)] proved that \(\tau\geq 2^d\) and conjectured that this inequality is actually equality. \textit{R. E. Kolchin} [Contemp. Math. 131, Pt. 2, 449-462 (1992; Zbl 0759.12002)] showed that it is true for \(d=1,2, 3\). The authors show that the order of such differential polynomials is bounded by \(d-1\), so \(\tau<\infty\). By using the computer algebra system Axiom they prove Schmidt's conjecture for \(d\leq 6\) and develop algorithms for computing bases for the above vector space. The questions discussed in the paper are intimately related to the problem of rational approximations of algebraic difference-differential equations [\textit{E. R. Kolchin}, Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 10, 238-244 (1959; Zbl 0092.27302)]. For the entire collection see [Zbl 0903.00081].