Positivstellensatz and flat functionals on path *-algebras (Q618255)

A challenging question in moment problems is to characterize truncated sequences of potential moments of positive measures or, equivalently, all non-negative polynomials in several variables of a fixed degree. So far, a natural but non-constructive way of avoiding a direct confrontation with this question is to assume that certain (Hankel matrix type) positivity conditions extend to higher degrees. If such an extension exists with preservation of the rank of the moment (Hankel) matrix, then a finite point mass representing measure exists, leading to cubature formulas in several variables. See, for instance, [\textit{J. B. Lasserre}, Moments, positive polynomials and their applications. Imperial College Press Optimization Series 1. London: Imperial College Press (2010; Zbl 1211.90007)]. Motivated by applications to engineering, moment problems were extended during the last decade from polynomial algebras to *-free algebras. Already an ample literature covers these new ramifications, see, for instance, the survey [\textit{M. C. de Oliveira, J. W. Helton, S. A. McCullough} and \textit{M. Putinar}, in: IMA Volumes in Mathematics and its Applications 149, 17--61 (2009; Zbl 1156.14331)]. An important adaptation of the original (commutative case) challenging question is what non free *-algebras carry a simple description of the degree preserving extension phenomenon. The present article produces ample examples of path algebras with such a property. As a corollary, the author obtains sharp Positivstellensätze (that is, weighted sums of squares representations) for elements in these path algebras (of double quivers). The style is alert yet complete, making the present work compulsory reading for all practitioners of real algebra techniques in optimization.