  Linear differential algebraic groups (LDAGs) appear as Galois groups of
systems of linear differential and difference equations with parameters. These
groups measure differential-algebraic dependencies among solutions of the
equations. LDAGs are now also used in factoring partial differential operators.
In this paper, we study Zariski closures of LDAGs. In particular, we give a
Tannakian characterization of algebraic groups that are Zariski closures of a
given LDAG. Moreover, we show that the Zariski closures that correspond to
representations of minimal dimension of a reductive LDAG are all isomorphic. In
addition, we give a Tannakian description of simple LDAGs. This substantially
extends the classical results of P. Cassidy and, we hope, will have an impact
on developing algorithms that compute differential Galois groups of the above
equations and factoring partial differential operators.
