Laplace operator and polynomial invariants (Q1270108)

Assume \(A\) is a simple finite dimensional algebra over the field of complex numbers \(F\) and let \(G=\Aut A\) be the group of automorphisms of \(A\). (Note that \(A\) need not be associative.) The paper under review considers such algebras \(A\) that are equipped with a nondegenerate symmetric associative bilinear form \(\langle x,y\rangle\) that is \(G\)-invariant, and a compact real form. In other words there exists a subalgebra \(B\) of \(A\) over the real numbers that spans \(A\) over \(F\), and the restriction of the form on \(B\) is positive definite. Denote by \(F[A]\) the algebra of polynomial functions in any number of variables on \(A\), and by \(F[A]^G\) its subalgebra of \(G\)-invariants. The main result in the paper under review describes the algebra of invariants \(F[A]^G\). Namely it is proved that if \(S\) is an arbitrary set of homogeneous operators in \(F[A]\) then the algebra of invariants \(F[A]^G\) is generated by the elements \(f\Delta_1\ldots\Delta_t\) where \(f\in S\) and \(\Delta_j\) are Laplace operators, \(t\geq 0\). In fact this result holds for every algebraically closed field \(F\) of characteristic 0. As an application, the author describes the generators of the algebras of polynomial invariants of the adjoint representations of the exceptional simple algebraic groups of any type \(\neq E_6\), and obtains the First main theorem on matrix invariants as well as on invariants of minimal representations of \(G_2\) and of \(F_4\).