Polynomial and horizontally polynomial functions on Lie groups (Q2082714)

In the same way as a polynomial of a certain degree \(k\) in analysis can be described by the condition that the \((k+1)\)th derivative of this polynomial is zero, this concept of a polynomial is translated to Lie groups and in particular to a \(S\)-polynomials \(f\) over a fixed subset \(S\) of the Lie algebra, where \(X^kf\) with \(X\) in \(S\) is zero in the sense of distributions. Particular emphasis in this work is put on nilpotent and stratified (Carnot) groups, as the Lie algebras can be decomposed into a basis \((x_1,\dots,x_n)\) which in turn can be considered as exponential coordinates. For \(S\)-polynomials defined in this way, the authors prove their central Theorem 1.1 stating that a \(S\)-polynomial is represented by an analytic function, and that the vector space of \(S\)-polynomial distributions on each connected component of the Lie group is finite dimensional, and in Theorems 1.2 and 1.3 they build the bridge to polynomials in the (more) usual sense via the exponential chart. The details of the proofs and the way to accomplish those is of course a matter for the specialist. However, the non-specialist will obtain an impression on how mathematical model building is performed in a rigorous way with this example.