Elementary symmetric functions of two solvents of a quadratic matrix equation (Q1006598)

Quadratic matrix equations occur in a variety of applications. In the present paper the authors introduce new permutationally invariant functions of two solvents of the \(n\times n\) quadratic equation \(X^2-\mathcal{L}_1X-\mathcal{L}_0=0\), (\(\mathcal{L}_1, \mathcal{L}_0\in M_n(\mathbb C)\)) playing the role of the two elementary symmetric functions of the two roots of a quadratic equation. The results rely on the connection existing between the quadratic matrix equation and the theory of linear second-order difference equations with noncommutative coefficients. An application to a simple physical problem is also discussed.