A formula with some applications to the theory of Lyapunov exponents (Q1852717)

Let \(A_1,\dots,A_n\) be nonsingular \(2\times 2\) matrices and let \(R_{\theta}\) be the rotation at angle \(\theta\). The authors show that if \(A_{j,\theta}=A_jR_{\theta}\), then \[ \int_0^{2\pi}N(A_{n,\theta}\cdots A_{1,\theta}) d\theta=2\pi\sum_{j=1}^n N(A_j), \] where \(N(A)=\log((\|A\|+\|A\|^{-1})/2)\). This formula has important applications in the theory of Lyapunov exponents of cocycles. For example, the authors apply it to re-prove Herman's inequality [\textit{M. R. Herman}, Comment. Math. Helv. 58, 453-502 (1983; Zbl 0554.58034)]; in fact, they show that this inequality turns into an equality.