Burchnall-Chaundy polynomials for matrix ODOs and Picard-Vessiot theory (Q6111912)

\textit{J. L. Burchnall} and \textit{T. W. Chaundy} [Proc. R. Soc. Lond., Ser. A 118, 557--583 (1928; JFM 54.0439.01); Proc. R. Soc. Lond., Ser. A 134, 471--485 (1931; Zbl 0003.25701; JFM 57.0478.01)] showed that if two ordinary differential operators (ODOs) \(P,\, Q\) with analytic coefficients commute then there exists a polynomial (the BC-polynomial), \(f(\lambda, \mu)\) with complex coefficients such that \(f(P, Q) = 0\). The BC-polynomial polynomial can be computed by means of differential resultants for ODOs. In this work, authors extend this result to matrix ordinary differential operators, MODOs. The matrices have entries in a differential field \(K\), whose field of constants \(C\) is algebraically closed and of zero characteristic. The authors restrict to the case of order one operators \(P\), with invertible leading coefficients. The idea is to define a new differential elimination tool (the matrix differential resultant) which is used to compute the BC-polynomial of a pair of commuting MODOs, and it is proved that it has constant coefficients. This new resultant provides the necessary and sufficient condition for the spectral problem \(PY = \lambda Y,\, QY = \mu Y\) to have a solution. Techniques from differential algebra and Picard-Vessiot theory allow to describe explicitly isomorphisms between commutative rings of MODOs, \(C[P, Q]\), and a finite product of rings of irreducible algebraic curves.