Note on Kovacic's algorithm (Q674766)

This note contains five sections. The first section is entitled ``Differential Galois theory''. The authors use the results of Kaplansky (1976), Kolchin (1948) and \textit{M. F. Singer} [J. Symb. Comput. 10, 59--94 (1990; Zbl 0727.12011)]. A differential field \((k,\delta)\) is a field \(k\) together with a derivation \(\delta\) on \(k\). A differential field extension of \((k,\delta)\) is a differential field \((K,\Delta)\). The differential Galois group \({\mathcal G} (K/k)\) of a differential field extension \(K\) of \(k\) is the set of \(k\)-automorphisms of \(K\) which commute with the derivative of \(K\). A differential field extension \((K,\Delta)\) of \((k,\delta)\) which is called a Liouvillian extension is also presented. For \(k=C(x)\) and a differential equation \(L(y)=0\) with coefficients in \(k\), an algorithm is given to compute: (i) a rational solution, see \textit{M. Bronstein} [J. Symb. Comput. 13, 413--439 (1992; Zbl 0752.34009)], \textit{M. F. Singer} [J. Symb. Comput. 11, 251--273 (1991; Zbl 0776.12002)]; (ii) algebraic solutions of the third equation \(L(y)=0\) is given in Jordan (1878), a general algorithm was given by \textit{M. F. Singer} [Queen's Pap. Pure Appl. Math. 54, 379--420 (1980; Zbl 0453.12010)]; (iii) a Liouvillian solution of a second order equation is given in \textit{J. Kovacic} [J. Symb. Comput. 2, 3--43 (1986; Zbl 0603.68035)]. The third order case is studied in \textit{M. F. Singer} and \textit{F. Ulmer} [J. Symb. Comput. 16, 37--73 (1993; Zbl 0802.12005)]. In the next paragraph the authors present differential Galois groups. The second section treats the algebraic solutions of Riccati and semi-invariants. In the third section the authors assume that \(L(y)\) is a second order equation with \({\mathcal G} (L) \subseteq \mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb C)\). The fourth section deals with the rationality problem. For others details see the authors' references.