Cayley-Hamilton theorem for \(2\times 2\) matrices over the Grassmann algebra (Q1295654)

\textit{J. Szigeti} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 125, No. 8, 2245-2254 (1997; Zbl 0888.16011)] proved a generalized Cayley-Hamilton theorem for \(n\times n\) matrices \(A=(a_{ij})\) over a ring \(R\) that satisfies a Lie identity \([x_1,\dots, x_{m+1}]=0\). (A Grassmann algebra, for example, satisfies the identity \([x_1,x_2, x_3]=0.)\) Szigeti's ``characteristic polynomial'' \(\chi_A^{(m)}(t)\) is monic of degree \(n^m\) and its coefficients are (non-commutative) polynomials in the \(a_{ij}\). In the present paper, \(R\) is taken to be an algebra over a field \(K\) of characteristic 0. Let \(X=(x_{ij})\) be a generic \(n\times n\) matrix over \(K\) and denote by \(K\langle x_{ij}\rangle\) the \(K\)-algebra freely generated by the \(x_{ij}\). Via conjugation: \(X\mapsto gXg^{-1}\), the group \(G\ell_n=GL_n(K)\) acts as a group of automorphisms of \(K\langle x_{ij}\rangle\). The author slightly modifies Szigeti's definition of \(\chi_X^{(m)}(t)\) in order to ensure that its coefficients are \(G\ell_n\)-invariants. Let \(R\) be the largest quotient of \(K\langle x_{ij}\rangle\) in which the identity \([x_1,\dots,x_{m+1}]=0\) holds. The question arises whether (as in the commutative ring case \(m=1)\) the algebra of invariants \(R^{G\ell_n}\) is generated by the images in \(R\) of the coefficients of \(\chi^{(m)}_X(t)\). The author's detailed examination of the case \(m=n=2\) shows that this is not so. He proves that \(R^{G\ell_2}\) is generated by the images of \(Tr(X)\), \(Tr(X^2)\), \(Tr(X^3)\) and expresses the coefficients of the (degree 4) characteristic polynomial \(\chi_X^{(2)}(t)\) explicitly in terms of these generators. He also determines the Hilbert series of \(R^{G\ell_2}\) explicitly.