An algorithm for constructing certain differential operators in positive characteristic

Abstract

Given a non-zero polynomial $f$ in a polynomial ring $R$ with coefficients in a finite field of prime characteristic $p$, we present an algorithm to compute a differential operator $\delta$ which raises $1/f$ to its $p$th power. For some specific families of polynomials, we also study the level of such a differential operator $\delta$, i.e., the least integer $e$ such that $\delta$ is $R^{p^e}$-linear. In particular, we obtain a characterization of supersingular elliptic curves in terms of the level of the associated differential operator.