A study of a recursive sequence of polynomials revealing weighted Catalan Numbers

Abstract: This paper examines the recursive sequence of polynomials $p_n(x)$, defined by $p_0(x) = x^2 - 2$ and $p_n(x) = p_{n-1}(x)^2 - 2$ for $n \geq 1$. It describes the field-theoretic motivations behind this sequence, derives a recursive formula for its coefficients, and identifies invariants that uncover combinatorial connections, including links to weighted Catalan numbers.