On translation invariant symmetric polynomials and Haldane's conjecture

Abstract

We show that the ring of translation invariant symmetric polynomials in n variables is isomorphic to the full polynomial ring in n-1 variables, in characteristic 0. We disprove a conjecture of Haldane regarding the structure of such polynomials. Our motivation is the fractional quantum Hall effect, where translation invariant (anti)symmetric complex n-variate polynomials characterize n-electron wavefunctions.