On pairs of commuting derivations of the polynomial ring in one or two variables (Q977474)

A \(k\)-derivation of the polynomial ring \(k[X]:= k[x_1, \dots, x_n]\) over a field \(k\) is a \(k\)-linear map \(D: k[X] \rightarrow k[X]\) that satisfies the Leibniz rule: \[ D(fg)=D(f)g+fD(g) \quad\text{for all }\;f,g\in k(X). \] A nonconstant polynomial \(F\in k[X]\) is called a Darboux polynomial or a polynomial eigenfunction with a polynomial eigenvalue \(\lambda \in k[X]\) of a derivation \(D\) if \(D(F)=\lambda F\). It is well-known that each pair of commuting linear operators on a finite-dimensional vector space over an algebraically closed field has a common eigenvector. Let \(k\) be a field of characteristic \(0\). In the present paper, the authors find conditions under which a pair of commuting derivations of \(k[X]\) or \(k[X,Y]\) has a common Darboux polynomial.