Fixed points of automorphisms of free Lie algebras (Q1924979)

Let \(G\) be a group, \(K\) a field, \(V\) a finite dimensional \(KG\)-module, \(L\) the free Lie algebra on \(V\), and let \(L_n\) \((n \geq 1)\) denote the homogeneous components of \(L\) (in particular, \(L_1 = V)\). Then \(L\) becomes a \(KG\)-module and each \(L_n\) is a submodule. One of the central problems in the invariant theory of groups acting on Lie algebras is the determination of the dimension of the fixed point subspaces \(L^G_n\). In this paper we solve this problem in the case when \(G\) is the cyclic group of order 2 and \(V\) is a free \(KG\)-module of finite rank by obtaining explicit formulae for those dimensions. The case where \(K\) has characteristic not equal to 2 is comparatively easy. Our main result is in the case where \(K\) has characteristic 2. Here we construct a \(K\)-basis of \(L\) that is permuted under the action of \(G\), and then we deduce the dimension formulae. The result answers a question of L. G. Kovács included as Problem 11.47 in the Kourovka notebook.