On Some Lie Group Invariant noncommutative functions

Abstract

We study noncommutative polynomials and functions invariant under linear actions of infinite (compact Lie) groups, with a focus on $SU(2)$ acting on two noncommuting variables. For $SU(2)$, we give a complete description of the invariant noncommutative polynomials: there are no invariants of odd degree, and in degree $2n$ the invariants are exactly the span of the $S_{2n}$-orbit of $(XY-YX)^n$. We also construct an explicit basis recursively from the operation $(A,B)\mapsto XAYB-YAXB$, and show that the space of degree-$2n$ invariants has dimension equal to the $n$-th Catalan number. All proofs proceed by direct computation with the Haar integral.