Trace-positive polynomials and the quartic tracial moment problem (Q990194)

A noncommutative polynomial \(f\in\mathbb R\langle X,Y\rangle\) is said to be trace-positive if for all symmetric \(n\times n\) matrices \(A\) and \(B\), the matrix \(f(A,B)\) has a nonnegative trace. \textit{I. Klep} and \textit{M. Schweighofer} have recently shown that such polynomials are intimately connected to Connes' embedding conjecture [Adv. Math. 217, No. 4, 1816--1837 (2008; Zbl 1184.46055)]. The main result of the paper under review states that if a trace-positive polynomial \(f\) has degree \(\leq 4\), then \(f = \sum_{i=1}^4 g_i^*g_i + \sum_{j=1}^r [h_j,k_j]\) for some \(g_i,h_j,k_j\in\mathbb R\langle X,Y\rangle\). An application to the truncated tracial moment problem is also given.