First-order factors of linear Mahler operators

We develop and compare two algorithms for computing first-order right-hand factors in the ring of linear Mahler operatorsℓ_r M^r + … + ℓ_1 M + ℓ_0where ℓ_0, …, ℓ_r are polynomials in x and Mx = x^b M for some integer b ≥ 2. In other words, we give algorithms for finding all formal infinite product solutions of linear functional equationsℓ_r(x) f(x^b^r) + … + ℓ_1(x) f(x^b) + ℓ_0(x) f(x) = 0. The first of our algorithms is adapted from Petkovšek's classical algorithm forthe analogous problem in the case of linear recurrences. The second one proceeds by computing a basis of generalized power series solutions of the functional equation and by using Hermite-Padé approximants to detect those linear combinations of the solutions that correspond to first-order factors. We present implementations of both algorithms and discuss their use in combination with criteria from the literature to prove the differential transcendence of power series solutions of Mahler equations.