Invariant polynomials in the free skew field (Q5956140)

Let \(F=k\langle x_1,\dots,x_n\rangle\) be the free associative algebra of rank \(n\) over a field \(k\) and \(D\) its universal skew field of fractions. \textit{I. Gelfand} and \textit{V. Retakh} in their paper [in Sel. Math., New Ser. 3, No. 4, 517-546 (1997; Zbl 0919.16011)] have defined the determinant of a matrix over a skew field by induction in terms of minors. In this way the Vandermonde quasideterminant \(V(x_1,\dots,x_k)=V_k\) can be defined as determinant of the usual Vandermonde matrix. Now put \(y_k=V_kx_kV^{-1}_k\) (\(y_1=x_1\)) and define \(a_r=\sum y_{i_1}\cdots y_{i_r}\) summed over all products with \(n\geq i_1>\cdots>i_r\geq 1\). In (I. Gelfand and V. Retakh, loc. cit.) it was proved that for an indeterminate \(z\) commuting with all the \(x_i\), \((z-y_n)(z-y_{n-1})\cdots(z-y_1)=V(x_1,\dots,x_n,z)=z^n+a_1z^{n-1}+\cdots+a_n\). They showed that each \(a_i\) is invariant under \(S_n\), the symmetric group on the \(x_i\) and they conjectured that every \(S_n\)-invariant polynomial in the \(y_i\) is a polynomial in \(a_1,\dots,a_n\). The author's aim here is to prove this conjecture. After recalling the universal property of \(D\) the author defines (non-Archimedean) valuations; they are called Abelian if the residue-class field is commutative. E.g. the universal associate envelope of a Lie algebra has a valuation derived from the natural filtration, which is Abelian. The proof of the conjecture makes use of some independence and invariance results as well as expressions for products of the \(y\)'s obtained by Gelfand and Retakh.