Images of Locally Finite Derivations of Polynomial Algebras in Two Variables

In this paper we show that the image of any locally finite $k$-derivation of the polynomial algebra $k[x, y]$ in two variables over a field $k$ of characteristic zero is a Mathieu subspace. We also show that the two-dimensional Jacobian conjecture is equivalent to the statement that the image $Im D$ of every $k$-derivation $D$ of $k[x, y]$ such that $1\in Im D$ and $div D=0$ is a Mathieu subspace of $k[x, y]$.Comment: Minor changes and improvements. Latex, 9 pages. To appear in J. Pure Appl. Algebr

The tame automorphism group in two variables over basic Artinian rings

In a recent paper it has been established that over an Artinian ring R all two-dimensional polynomial automorphisms having Jacobian determinant one are tame if R is a Q-algebra. This is a generalization of the famous Jung-Van der Kulk Theorem, which deals with the case that R is a field (of any characteristic). Here we will show that for tameness over an Artinian ring, the Q-algebra assumption is really needed: we will give, for local Artinian rings with square-zero principal maximal ideal, a complete description of the tame automorphism subgroup. This will lead to an example of a non-tame automorphism, for any characteristic p>0.Comment: 10 page

Two Results on Homogeneous Hessian Nilpotent Polynomials

Let $z=(z_1, ..., z_n)$ and $\Delta=\sum_{i=1}^n \frac {\partial^2}{\partial z^2_i}$ the Laplace operator. A formal power series $P(z)$ is said to be {\it Hessian Nilpotent}(HN) if its Hessian matrix \Hes P(z)=(\frac {\partial^2 P}{\partial z_i\partial z_j}) is nilpotent. In recent developments in [BE1], [M] and [Z], the Jacobian conjecture has been reduced to the following so-called {\it vanishing conjecture}(VC) of HN polynomials: {\it for any homogeneous HN polynomial $P(z)$ $($of degree $d=4$$)$, we have $\Delta^m P^{m+1}(z)=0$ for any $m>>0$.} In this paper, we first show that, the VC holds for any homogeneous HN polynomial $P(z)$ provided that the projective subvarieties ${\mathcal Z}_P$ and ${\mathcal Z}_{\sigma_2}$ of $\mathbb C P^{n-1}$ determined by the principal ideals generated by $P(z)$ and $\sigma_2(z):=\sum_{i=1}^n z_i^2$, respectively, intersect only at regular points of ${\mathcal Z}_P$. Consequently, the Jacobian conjecture holds for the symmetric polynomial maps $F=z-\nabla P$ with $P(z)$ HN if $F$ has no non-zero fixed point $w\in \mathbb C^n$ with $\sum_{i=1}^n w_i^2=0$. Secondly, we show that the VC holds for a HN formal power series $P(z)$ if and only if, for any polynomial $f(z)$, $\Delta^m (f(z)P(z)^m)=0$ when $m>>0$.Comment: Latex, 7 page

Stable Tameness of Two-Dimensional Polynomial Automorphisms Over a Regular Ring

In this paper it is established that all two-dimensional polynomial automorphisms over a regular ring R are stably tame. In the case R is a Dedekind Q-algebra, some stronger results are obtained. A key element in the proof is a theorem which yields the following corollary: Over an Artinian ring A all two-dimensional polynomial automorphisms having Jacobian determinant one are stably tame, and are tame if A is a Q-algebra. Another crucial ingredient, of interest in itself, is that stable tameness is a local property: If an automorphism is locally tame, then it is stably tame.Comment: 18 page

Venereau-type polynomials as potential counterexamples

We study some properties of the Venereau polynomials b_m=y+x^m(xz+y(yu+z^2)), a sequence of proposed counterexamples to the Abhyankar-Sathaye embedding conjecture and the Dolgachev-Weisfeiler conjecture. It is well known that these are hyperplanes and residual coordinates, and for m at least 3, they are C[x]-coordinates. For m=1,2, it is only known that they are 1-stable C[x]-coordinates. We show that b_2 is in fact a C[x]-coordinate. We introduce the notion of Venereau-type polynomials, and show that these are all hyperplanes, and residual coordinates. We show that some of these Venereau-type polynomials are in fact C[x]-coordinates; the rest remain potential counterexamples to the embedding and other conjectures. For those that we show to be coordinates, we also show that any automorphism with one of them as a component is stably tame. The remainder are stably tame, 1-stable C[x]-coordinates.Comment: 15 pages; to appear in J. Pure and Applied Algebr

A note on k[z]-automorphisms in two variables

We prove that for a polynomial $f\in k[x,y,z]$ equivalent are: (1)$f$ is a $k[z]$-coordinate of $k[z][x,y]$, and (2) $k[x,y,z]/(f)\cong k^{[2]}$ and $f(x,y,a)$ is a coordinate in $k[x,y]$ for some $a\in k$. This solves a special case of the Abhyankar-Sathaye conjecture. As a consequence we see that a coordinate $f\in k[x,y,z]$ which is also a $k(z)$-coordinate, is a $k[z]$-coordinate. We discuss a method for constructing automorphisms of $k[x,y,z]$, and observe that the Nagata automorphism occurs naturally as the first non-trivial automorphism obtained by this method - essentially linking Nagata with a non-tame $R$-automorphism of $R[x]$, where $R=k[z]/(z^2)$.Comment: 8 page