The maximal differential ideal is generated by its invariants (Q5935880)

Let \(L\) be a monic linear differential operator of order \(n\) over the field \(F=\mathbb C(z)\) of rational functions in one variable over the complex numbers, and let \(y_1, \dots, y_n\) be linearly independent (over constants) solutions of \(L=0\) in a Picard--Vessiot extension \(E \supseteq F\). Let \(R=F[X_{ij}, 1/\text{det}(X_{ij})]\) be the polynomial ring with the inverse determinant adjoined. There is a homomorphism \(R \to E\) which sends \(X_{ij}\) to the \((i-1)\)th derivative of \(y_j\); let \(I\) be its kernel. The group \(GL_n(\mathbb C)\) acts on \(R\): the action \(g \in GL_n(\mathbb C)\) sends the matrix \(X=(X_{ij})\) to the matrix \(Xg\). With this notation, the differential Galois group \(G\) is precisely the set of matrices in \(GL_n(\mathbb C)\) which stabilize \(I\) set wise. The purpose of this paper is to provide an alterative proof of the theorem, due to Elie Compoint, that when \(G\) is reductive the ideal \(I\) is generated by \(G\) invariants. The author's proof uses the invariant theory of \(GL_n\), and in particular the result that the semi--invariants in the quotient field of \(R\) are \(F\) multiples of powers of the determinant.