Invariant Bases for Free Lie Rings (Q3149054)

Let \(V\) be a free \(\mathbb Z\)-module and \(\tau\in \text{GL}(V)\) an automorphism of order 2. A \(\mathbb Z\)-basis \(B\) of \(V\) is called \(\tau\)-invariant if it is of the form \(B=B_0\cup B_{1}\cup B_{-1}\), where \(B_1\) and \(B_{-1}\) consist of eigenvectors with eigenvalues \(1\) and \(-1\), respectively, and \(B_0\) consists of pairs of elements that are interchanged by \(\tau\). The authors study invariant bases for free Lie rings. For any integer \(\alpha\geq 0\) and any \(a\) belonging to a Lie algebra \(L\), set \[ g_\alpha(a)=\frac 12 ([a\tau,\underbrace{a,\dots,a}_{2^\alpha}, \underbrace{a\tau,\dots,a\tau}_{2^\alpha-1}]- [a,\underbrace{a\tau,\dots,a\tau}_{2^\alpha}, \underbrace{a,\dots,a}_{2^\alpha-1}]). \] Clearly, \(g_\alpha(a)\) are eigenvectors with eigenvalue \(-1\). The main result is as follows. Theorem. Let \(L\) denote the free Lie ring of rank \(2r\) with free generators \(x_i,y_i\) (\(1\leq i\leq r\)) and let \(\tau\) be the automorphism of \(L\) that interchanges \(x_i\) and \(y_i\) for all \(i\). Then there exist elements \(v_i\) (\(i=1,2,\dots\)) such that \(v_i\), \(v_i\tau\) (\(i=1,2,\dots\)) together with elements \(g_\alpha(v_i)\) (\(i=1,2,\dots\), \(\alpha\geq 0\)) form a \(\tau\)-invariant \(\mathbb Z\)-basis of \(L\). All pairs \(v_i\), \(v_i\tau\) belong to \(B_0\) and elements \(g_\alpha(a)\) belong to \(B_{-1}\), so, the component \(B_1\) is trivial. The approach of the authors relies on Lazard's elimination theorem. The authors also construct invariant \(\mathbb Z\)-bases for free Lie rings of countable rank. A simpler case of characteristic 2 was treated in [\textit{S. Guilfoyle} and \textit{R. Stöhr}, J. Algebra 204, 337--346 (1998; Zbl 0977.17003)]; see also other related works of the authors [ Arch. Math. 67, 281--289 (1996; Zbl 0853.17003), Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 352, 901--934 (2000; Zbl 1017.17007), J. Aust. Math. Soc., Ser. A 67, 143--156 (1999; Zbl 0949.17002)].