Lie invariants in two and three variables

Abstract: We use computer algebra to determine the Lie invariants of degree <= 12 in the free Lie algebra on two generators corresponding to the natural representation of the simple 3-dimensional Lie algebra sl(2,C). We then consider the free Lie algebra on three generators, and compute the Lie invariants of degree <= 7 corresponding to the adjoint representation of sl(2,C), and the Lie invariants of degree <= 9 corresponding to the natural representation of sl(3,C). We represent the action of sl(2,C) and sl(3,C) on Lie polynomials by computing the coefficient matrix with respect to the basis of Hall words. We then use algorithms for linear algebra (row canonical form, Hermite normal form, lattice basis reduction) to compute a basis of the nullspace.