Quantum invariant families of matrices in free probability

Abstract

We consider (self-adjoint) families of infinite matrices of noncommutative random variables such that the joint distribution of their entries is invariant under conjugation by a free quantum group. For the free orthogonal and hyperoctahedral groups, we obtain complete characterizations of the invariant families in terms of an operator-valued $R$-cyclicity condition. This is a surprising contrast with the Aldous-Hoover characterization of jointly exchangeable arrays.