Denominators for the Poincaré series of invariants of matrices with involution. (Q1812252)

Let \(G\) be one of the complex classical groups \(GL_N\), \(O_N\), or \(Sp_N\). Then \(G\) acts by conjugation on the space \(M(N)\) of \(N\times N\) matrices, and by simultaneous conjugation on the space \(M(N,k)\) of \(k\)-tuples of \(N\times N\) matrices. Write \(C(N,k)\) for the algebra of polynomial \(G\)-invariants on \(M(N,k)\), and write \(R(N,k)\) for the (non-commutative) algebra of \(G\)-equivariant polynomial maps from \(M(N,k)\) to \(M(N)\). Recall that these algebras in the orthogonal or symplectic case are closely related to the generic matrix algebra with involution of transpose or symplectic type. There is a natural \(k\)-fold grading on \(C(N,k)\) and \(R(N,k)\) (and a finer \(2k\)-fold grading when \(G=O_N\) or \(G=Sp_N\)). The present paper focuses on the corresponding Poincaré series, and establishes results known in the case of \(GL_N\) in the cases of \(O_{2n+1}\) and \(Sp_{2n}\). In particular, these Poincaré series are rational functions satisfying an explicitly given functional equation. Explicit calculations are done in the \(3\times 3\) orthogonal and in the \(4\times 4\) symplectic case. For example, in the \(3\times 3\) orthogonal case a minimal denominator for the rational Poincaré series is determined.