On globally nilpotent differential equations

In a previous work of the authors, a middle convolution operation on the category of Fuchsian differential systems was introduced. In this note we show that the middle convolution of Fuchsian systems preserves the property of global nilpotence. This leads to a globally nilpotent Fuchsian system of rank two which does not belong to the known classes of globally nilpotent rank two systems. Moreover, we give a globally nilpotent Fuchsian system of rank seven whose differential Galois group is isomorphic to the exceptional simple algebraic group of type $G_2.

Galois theory of q-difference equations

Choose $q\in {\mathbb C}$ with 0<|q|<1. The main theme of this paper is the study of linear q-difference equations over the field K of germs of meromorphic functions at 0. It turns out that a difference module M over K induces in a functorial way a vector bundle v(M) on the Tate curve $E_q:={\mathbb C}^*/q^{\mathbb Z}$. As a corollary one rediscovers Atiyah's classification of the indecomposable vector bundles on the complex Tate curve. Linear q-difference equations are also studied in positive characteristic in order to derive Atiyah's results for elliptic curves for which the j-invariant is not algebraic over ${\mathbb F}_p$. A universal difference ring and a universal formal difference Galois group are introduced. Part of the difference Galois group has an interpretation as `Stokes matrices', the above moduli space is the algebraic tool to compute it. It is possible to provide the vector bundle v(M) on E_q, corresponding to a difference module M over K, with a connection $\nabla_M$. If M is regular singular, then $\nabla_M$ is essentially determined by the absense of singularities and `unit circle monodromy'. More precisely, the monodromy of the connection $(v(M),\nabla_M)$ coincides with the action of two topological generators of the universal regular singular difference Galois group. For irregular difference modules, $\nabla_M$ will have singularities and there are various Tannakian choices for $M\mapsto (v(M),\nabla_M)$. Explicit computations are difficult, especially for the case of non integer slopes.Comment: Corrected versio

Galois theory for iterative connections and nonreduced Galois groups

This article presents a theory of modules with iterative connection. This theory is a generalisation of the theory of modules with connection in characteristic zero to modules over rings of arbitrary characteristic. We show that these modules with iterative connection (and also the modules with integrable iterative connection) form a Tannakian category, assuming some nice properties for the underlying ring, and we show how this generalises to modules over schemes. We also relate these notions to stratifications on modules, as introduced by A. Grothendieck in order to extend integrable (ordinary) connections to finite characteristic. Over smooth rings, we obtain an equivalence of stratifications and integrable iterative connections. Furthermore, over a regular ring in positive characteristic, we show that the category of modules with integrable iterative connection is also equivalent to the category of flat bundles as defined by D. Gieseker. In the second part of this article, we set up a Picard-Vessiot theory for fields of solutions. For such a Picard-Vessiot extension, we obtain a Galois correspondence, which takes into account even nonreduced closed subgroup schemes of the Galois group scheme on one hand and inseparable intermediate extensions of the Picard-Vessiot extension on the other hand. Finally, we compare our Galois theory with the Galois theory for purely inseparable field extensions.Comment: 37 pages; v2->v3: more cross references to other papers are added in this version, the introduction is more detailed v3->v4: proof of Thm. 11.5iv) and of the following corollaries changed and hyperref adde

Conceptual Issues for Noncommutative Gravity on Algebras and Finite Sets

We discuss some of the issues to be addressed in arriving at a definitive noncommutative Riemannian geometry that generalises conventional geometry both to the quantum domain and to the discrete domain. This also provides an introduction to our 1997 formulation based on quantum group frame bundles. We outline now the local formulae with general differential calculus both on the base `quantum manifold' and on the structure group Gauge transforms with nonuniversal calculi, Dirac operator, Levi-Civita condition, Ricci tensor and other topics are also covered. As an application we outline an intrinsic or relative theory of quantum measurement and propose it as a possible framework to explore the link between gravity in quantum systems and entropy.Comment: 17 pages, to appear Proc. Euroconference on Noncommutative Geometry and Hopf Algebras in Field Theory and Particle Physics, Torino, 1999 -- this intro for theoretical physicists (mathematicians, see long paper