On intersections of fields of rational functions

Abstract

Let $X$ and $Y$ be rational functions of degree at least two with complex coefficients such that $\mathbb{C}(X,Y)=\mathbb{C}(z)$. We study the problem of determining when the field extension $[\mathbb{C}(z):\mathbb{C}(X)\cap\mathbb{C}(Y)]$ is finite and attains the minimal possible degree ${\rm deg X}\cdot{\rm deg Y}$. We give a complete characterization in the case where $X$ is a Galois covering. We also establish several related results concerning the functional equation $A \circ X = Y \circ B$ in rational functions, in the case where one of the functions involved is a Galois covering. Finally, we consider an analogous problem for holomorphic maps between compact Riemann surfaces.