We prove that a Banach algebra B that is a completion of the universal enveloping algebra of a finite-dimensional complex Lie algebra $\mathfrak {g}$ satisfies a polynomial identity if and only if the nilpotent radical $\mathfrak {n}$ of $\mathfrak {g}$ is associatively nilpotent in B. Furthermore, this holds if and only if a certain polynomial growth condition is satisfied on $\mathfrak {n}$ .

We apply the filtered and graded methods developed in earlier works to find (noncommutative) free group algebras in division rings.

If $L$ is a Lie algebra, we denote by $U(L)$ its universal enveloping algebra. P. M. Cohn constructed a division ring $\mathfrak{D}_{L}$ that contains $U(L)$. We denote by $\mathfrak{D}(L)$ the division subring of $\mathfrak{D}_{L}$ generated by $U(L)$.

Let $k$ be a field of characteristic zero, and let $L$ be a nonabelian Lie $k$-algebra. If either $L$ is residually nilpotent or $U(L)$ is an Ore domain, we show that $\mathfrak{D}(L)$ contains (noncommutative) free group algebras. In those same cases, if $L$ is equipped with an involution, we are able to prove that the free group algebra in $\mathfrak{D}(L)$ can be chosen generated by symmetric elements in most cases.

Let $G$ be a nonabelian residually torsion-free nilpotent group, and let $k(G)$ be the division subring of the Malcev–Neumann series ring generated by the group algebra $k[G]$. If $G$ is equipped with an involution, we show that $k(G)$ contains a (noncommutative) free group algebra generated by symmetric elements.

Let $\mathfrak{n}$ be a maximal nilpotent subalgebra of a complex symmetric Kac–Moody Lie algebra. Lusztig has introduced a basis of $U(\mathfrak{n})$ called the semicanonical basis, whose elements can be seen as certain constructible functions on varieties of nilpotent modules over a preprojective algebra of the same type as $\mathfrak{n}$. We prove a formula for the product of two elements of the dual of this semicanonical basis, and more generally for the product of two evaluation forms associated to arbitrary modules over the preprojective algebra. This formula plays an important rôle in our work on the relationship between semicanonical bases, representation theory of preprojective algebras, and Fomin and Zelevinsky's theory of cluster algebras. It was inspired by recent results of Caldero and Keller.

The main purpose of this paper is to obtain an explicit Capelli identity relating skew-symmetric matrices under the action of the general linear group $GL_N$. In particular, we give an explicit formula for the skew Capelli element in terms of the trace of powers of a matrix defined by the standard infinitesimal generators of $GL_N$.

AMS 2000 Mathematics subject classification: Primary 17B35. Secondary 17B10; 15A15; 20G05

The functional Ito formula, in the form $df({\bf \Lambda})=f({\bf \Lambda} +d{\bf \Lambda})-f({\bf \Lambda} )$, is formulated and proved in the context of a Lie algebra $\mathcal{L}$ associated with a quantum (non-commutative) stochastic calculus. Here $f$ is an element of the universal enveloping algebra $\mathcal{U}$ of $\mathcal{L}$, and $f({\bf \Lambda} + d{\bf \Lambda})-f({\bf \Lambda} )$ is given a meaning using the coproduct structure of $\mathcal{U}$ even though the individual terms of this expression have no meaning. The Ito formula is equivalent to a chaotic expansion formula for $f({\bf \Lambda} )$ which is found explicitly.

1991 Mathematics Subject Classification: primary 81S25; secondary 60H05; tertiary 18B25.