We calculate the autocorrelation functions (or shifted moments) of the
characteristic polynomials of matrices drawn uniformly with respect to Haar
measure from the groups U(N), O(2N) and USp(2N). In each case the result can be
expressed in three equivalent forms: as a determinant sum (and hence in terms
of symmetric polynomials), as a combinatorial sum, and as a multiple contour
integral. These formulae are analogous to those previously obtained for the
Gaussian ensembles of Random Matrix Theory, but in this case are identities for
any size of matrix, rather than large-matrix asymptotic approximations. They
also mirror exactly autocorrelation formulae conjectured to hold for
L-functions in a companion paper. This then provides further evidence in
support of the connection between Random Matrix Theory and the theory of
L-functions
