Let k be a field of characteristic zero and $k^{[n]}$ the polynomial algebra in n variables over k. The LND conjecture concerning the images of locally nilpotent derivations arose from the Jacobian conjecture. We give a positive answer to the LND conjecture in several cases. More precisely, we prove that the images of rank-one locally nilpotent derivations of $k^{[n]}$ acting on principal ideals are MZ-subspaces for any $n\geq 2$, and that the images of a large class of locally nilpotent derivations of $k^{[3]}$ (including all rank-two and homogeneous rank-three locally nilpotent derivations) acting on principal ideals are MZ-subspaces.

It is known that a polynomial local diffeomorphism $(f,\, g): {\mathbb {R}}^{2} \to {\mathbb {R}}^{2}$ is a global diffeomorphism provided the higher homogeneous terms of $f f_x+g g_x$ and $f f_y+g g_y$ do not have real linear factors in common. Here, we give a weight-homogeneous framework of this result. Our approach uses qualitative theory of differential equations. In our reasoning, we obtain a result on polynomial Hamiltonian vector fields in the plane, generalization of a known fact.

We obtain a new theorem for the non-properness set $S_f$ of a non-singular polynomial mapping $f:\mathbb C^n \to \mathbb C^n$. In particular, our result shows that if f is a counterexample to the Jacobian conjecture, then $S_f\cap Z \neq \emptyset $, for every hypersurface Z dominated by $\mathbb C^{n-1}$ on which some non-singular polynomial $h: \mathbb C^{n}\to \mathbb C$ is constant. Also, we present topological approaches to the Jacobian conjecture in $\mathbb C^n$. As applications, we extend bidimensional results of Rabier, Lê and Weber to higher dimensions.

We present conditions for a set of matrices satisfying a permutation identity to be simultaneously triangularizable. As applications of our results, we generalize Radjavi’s result on triangularization of matrices with permutable trace and results by Yan and Tang on linear triangularization of polynomial maps.

The algebra of one-sided inverses of a polynomial algebra Pn in n variables is obtained from Pn by adding commuting left (but not two-sided) inverses of the canonical generators of the algebra Pn. The algebra is isomorphic to the algebra

of scalar integro-differential operators provided that char(K) = 0. Ignoring the non-Noetherian property, the algebra belongs to a family of algebras like the nth Weyl algebra An and the polynomial algebra P2n. Explicit generators are found for the group Gn of automorphisms of the algebra and for the group of units of (both groups are huge). An analogue of the Jacobian homomorphism AutK-alg (Pn) → K* is introduced for the group Gn (notice that the algebra is non-commutative and neither left nor right Noetherian). The polynomial Jacobian homomorphism is unique. Its analogue is also unique for n > 2 but for n = 1, 2 there are exactly two of them. The proof is based on the following theorem that is proved in the paper:

Let K be a perfect field of characteristic p > 0; A1 := K〈x, ∂|∂x−x∂=1〉 be the first Weyl algebra; and Z:=K[X:=xp, Y:=∂p] be its centre. It is proved that (i) the restriction map res : AutK(A1)→ AutK(Z), σ ↦ σ|Z is a monomorphism with im(res) = Γ := {τ ∈ AutK(Z)|(τ)=1}, where (τ) is the Jacobian of τ, (Note that AutK(Z)=K* ⋉ Γ, and if K is not perfect then im(res) ≠ Γ.); (ii) the bijection res : AutK(A1) → Γ is a monomorphism of infinite dimensional algebraic groups which is not an isomorphism (even if K is algebraically closed); (iii) an explicit formula for res−1 is found via differential operators (Z) on Z and negative powers of the Fronenius map F. Proofs are based on the following (non-obvious) equality proved in the paper:

Recent papers have shown that ${{C}^{1}}$ maps $F:\,{{\mathbb{R}}^{2}}\,\to {{\mathbb{R}}^{2}}$ whose Jacobians have constant eigenvalues can be completely characterized if either the eigenvalues are equal or $F$ is a polynomial. Specifically, $F\,=\,(u,\,v)$ must take the form

$$u\,=\,ax\,+\,by\,+\,\beta \phi (\alpha x\,+\,\beta y)\,+\,e$$

$$v\,=\,cx\,+\,dy\,-\,\alpha \phi \,(\alpha x\,+\,\beta y)\,+\,f$$

for some constants $a,\,b,\,c,\,d,\,e,\,f,\,\alpha ,\,\beta $ and a ${{C}^{1}}$ function $\phi $ in one variable. If, in addition, the function $\phi $ is not affine, then

1

$$\alpha \beta (d\,-\,a)\,+\,b{{\alpha }^{2}}\,-\,c{{\beta }^{2}}\,=\,0.$$

This paper shows how these theorems cannot be extended by constructing a real-analytic map whose Jacobian eigenvalues are $\pm 1/2$ and does not fit the previous form. This example is also used to construct non-obvious solutions to nonlinear PDEs, including the Monge—Ampère equation.