Commutative matching Rota-Baxter operators, shuffle products with decorations and matching Zinbiel algebras

Abstract: The Rota-Baxter algebra and the shuffle product are both algebraic structures arising from integral operators and integral equations. Free commutative Rota-Baxter algebras provide an algebraic framework for integral equations with the simple Riemann integral operator. The Zinbiel algebras form a category in which the shuffle product algebra is the free object. Motivated by algebraic structures underlying integral equations involving multiple integral operators and kernels, we study commutative matching Rota-Baxter algebras and construct the free objects making use of the shuffle product with multiple decorations. We also construct free commutative matching Rota-Baxter algebras in a relative context, to emulate the action of the integral operators on the coefficient functions in an integral equation. We finally show that free commutative \match Rota-Baxter algebras give the free matching Zinbiel algebra, generalizing the characterization of the shuffle product algebra as the free Zinbiel algebra obtained by Loday.