Baxter algebra

Baxter algebras originated in the following problem in fluctuation theory: Find the distribution functions of the maxima of the partial sums , , of a sequence of independent identically-distributed random variables (cf. also Random variable). A central result in this area is the Spitzer identity

where is the characteristic function of and is the characteristic function of . Spitzer's identity bears an uncanny resemblance to the Waring identity

where are elementary symmetric functions and are power sum symmetric functions. The algebraic structure underlying both identities is a Baxter algebra. These algebras were defined by G.-C. Rota in [a2], [a3].

A Baxter operator on an algebra over a field is a linear operator from to itself satisfying the identity

(a1)

where is a constant in . A Baxter algebra is an algebra with a Baxter operator.

An example is the algebra of real-valued continuous functions on the interval with the integration operator

The formula for integration by parts is identity (a1) with .

Another example is the Banach algebra of characteristic functions of distribution functions of random variables (cf. also Characteristic function; Random variable) with the Baxter operator which sends the characteristic function of a random variable to the characteristic function of . That is, if

then

(a2)

Given any endomorphism (that is, a linear operator satisfying ) on an algebra , the operator

is a Baxter operator if the infinite series converges. In particular, the -integral

is a Baxter operator.

The standard Baxter algebra over a field with generators is defined in the following way. Let , , be sequences such that the terms are algebraically independent. On the -algebra with coordinate-wise addition and multiplication generated by , define the Baxter operator by

The standard Baxter algebra is the smallest subalgebra of containing and closed under . Rota [a2], [a3] proved that the standard Baxter algebra is free in the category of Baxter algebras (cf. also Free algebra).

If is the sequence , then the st term in is the power sum symmetric function and the th term in , where there are occurrences of , is . Hence, the free Baxter algebra on one generator is isomorphic to the algebra of symmetric functions (cf. also Symmetric function). Because the elementary symmetric functions are algebraically independent, the free Baxter algebra in one generator is isomorphic to the algebra of polynomials in the variables . This solves the word problem (cf. also Identity problem) for Baxter algebras with one generator. The word problem for Baxter algebras with more than one generator is solved in a similar way by P. Cartier. In particular, an identity amongst symmetric functions can be translated into an identity satisfied by all Baxter algebras on one generator. For example, writing Waring's identity in terms of Baxter operators, one obtains

When is the Baxter operator given in (a2), this identity is Spitzer's identity. When is the -integral, this identity becomes the Eulerian identity

References

[a1]	G. Baxter, "An analytic problem whose solution follows from a simple algebraic identity" Pacific J. Math. , 10 (1960) pp. 731–742
[a2]	G.-C. Rota, "Baxter algebras and combinatorial identities I–II" Bull. Amer. Math. Soc. , 75 (1969) pp. 325–334
[a3]	G.-C. Rota, "Baxter algebras: an introduction" J.P.S. Kung (ed.) , Gian-Carlo Rota on Combinatorics , Birkhäuser (1995) pp. 504–512