Images of Locally Finite Derivations of Polynomial Algebras in Two Variables

Abstract

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 $k[x, y]$.