Geometric interplay between function subspaces and their rings of differential operators

Abstract

We study, in the setting of algebraic varieties, finite-dimensional spaces of functions V that are invariant under a ring D^V of differential operators, and give conditions under which D^V acts irreducibly. We show how this problem, originally formulated in physics (Kamran-Milson-Olver), is related to the study of principal parts bundles and Weierstrass points (Laksov-Thorup), including a detailed study of Taylor expansions. Under some conditions it is possible to obtain V and D^V as global sections of a line bundle and its ring of differential operators. We show that several of the published examples of D^V are of this type, and that there are many more -- in particular arising from toric varieties.