Constants of Weitzenb\"ock derivations and invariants of unipotent transformations acting on relatively free algebras

In commutative algebra, a Weitzenb\"ock derivation is a nonzero triangular linear derivation of the polynomial algebra $K[x_1,...,x_m]$ in several variables over a field $K$ of characteristic 0. The classical theorem of Weitzenb\"ock states that the algebra of constants is finitely generated. (This algebra coincides with the algebra of invariants of a single unipotent transformation.) In this paper we study the problem of finite generation of the algebras of constants of triangular linear derivations of finitely generated (not necessarily commutative or associative) algebras over $K$ assuming that the algebras are free in some sense (in most of the cases relatively free algebras in varieties of associative or Lie algebras). In this case the algebra of constants also coincides with the algebra of invariants of some unipotent transformation. \par The main results are the following: 1. We show that the subalgebra of constants of a factor algebra can be lifted to the subalgebra of constants. 2. For all varieties of associative algebras which are not nilpotent in Lie sense the subalgebras of constants of the relatively free algebras of rank $\geq 2$ are not finitely generated. 3. We describe the generators of the subalgebra of constants for all factor algebras $K/I$ modulo a $GL_2(K)$-invariant ideal $I$. 4. Applying known results from commutative algebra, we construct classes of automorphisms of the algebra generated by two generic $2\times 2$ matrices. We obtain also some partial results on relatively free Lie algebras.Comment: 31 page

Equations in simple Lie algebras

Given an element $P(X_1,...,X_d)$ of the finitely generated free Lie algebra, for any Lie algebra $g$ we can consider the induced polynomial map $P: g^d\to g$. Assuming that $K$ is an arbitrary field of characteristic $\ne 2$, we prove that if $P$ is not an identity in $sl(2,K)$, then this map is dominant for any Chevalley algebra $g$. This result can be viewed as a weak infinitesimal counterpart of Borel's theorem on the dominancy of the word map on connected semisimple algebraic groups. We prove that for the Engel monomials $[[[X,Y],Y],...,Y]$ and, more generally, for their linear combinations, this map is, moreover, surjective onto the set of noncentral elements of $g$ provided that the ground field $K$ is big enough, and show that for monomials of large degree the image of this map contains no nonzero central elements. We also discuss consequences of these results for polynomial maps of associative matrix algebras.Comment: 22 page

Finite-dimensional Lie subalgebras of algebras with continuous inversion

We investigate the finite-dimensional Lie groups whose points are separated by the continuous homomorphisms into groups of invertible elements of locally convex algebras with continuous inversion that satisfy an appropriate completeness condition. We find that these are precisely the linear Lie groups, that is, the Lie groups which can be faithfully represented as matrix groups. Our method relies on proving that certain finite-dimensional Lie subalgebras of algebras with continuous inversion commute modulo the Jacobson radical.Comment: 9 pages; to appear in the journal Studia Mathematic

Normal and normally outer automorphisms of free metabelian nilpotent Lie algebras

Let L be the free m-generated metabelian nilpotent of class c Lie algebra over a field of characteristic 0. An automorphism f of L is called normal if f(I)=I for every ideal I of the algebra L. Such automorphisms form a normal subgroup N(L) of Aut(L) containing the group of inner automorphisms. We describe the group of normal automorphisms of L and the quotient group of Aut(L) modulo N(L).Comment: to appear in Serdica Mathematical Journa