Symmetric functions of two noncommuting variables (Q2511672)

A surprising observation of \textit{M. C. Wolf} [``Symmetric functions of non-commuting elements'', Duke Math. J. 2, 626--637 (1936; JFM 62.1103.01)] asserts that a symmetric polynomial in the free variables \(z,w\) cannot be written as a polynomial in \(z+w, zw+wz\). The authors reconsider this question in the framework of symmetric analytic functions of two free variables, and prove that in this case there exists a representation in terms of \(z+w, zw+wz\). The main result is achieved by an ingenious lifting of matrix-valued analytic maps, along the infinite tower of matrices of arbitrary size. A detailed analysis of non-commuting functions of matrix arguments is exposed, with a clear interest in itself and other future applications. The symmetric functions of two non-commuting variables are realized as transfer functions of appropriate finite difference scheme systems. The work complements recent advances of Helton and his collaborators in the free analysis domain, see for a survey [\textit{J. W. Helton, I. Klep} and \textit{S. McCullough}, ``Convexity and semidefinite programming in dimension-free matrix unknowns'', in: Handbook on semidefinite, conic and polynomial optimization, New York: Springer, 377--405 (2012; \url{doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-0769-0_13})].