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I want to work on $K$ an algebraic closed (commutative) field of characteristic zero (even if it seems to be more general). We can define the free $K$-algebra of polynomials in non commutative variables $x_1, \cdots, x_n$. It is usually denoted by $K\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle$.

Fix a non commutative polynomial $P \in K\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle$. For every natural number $m$ and every choice of matrices $M_1, \cdots, M_n \in {\rm M}_m(K)$, we can evaluate $P$ at $(M_1, \cdots, M_n)$ to obtain a matrix $P(M_1, \cdots, M_n) \in {\rm M}_m(K)$.

My question is : if the evaluation of $P$ on every $n$-tuple of $m\times m$-matrices $(M_1, \cdots, M_n)$ for every $m$ is $0$, is necessary $P = 0 \in K\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle$ ?

I don't know if the question is totally trivial.

1. In fact, if we restrict the condition to $m=1$, the answer is clearly no because the non commutative polynomial $x_1 x_2 - x_2 x_1$ for example is non zero. But it is yes if we consider polynomial in commutative variables.

2. Algebras ${\rm M}_m(K)$ are polynomial identity rings. In particular, the answer is no again if the condition $P(M_1, \cdots, M_n) =0$ only for all $M_1, \cdots, M_n \in {\rm M}_m(K)$ for a fixed $m$. Amitsur–Levitzki theorem gives an explicit counter-example.

Extension of the question : same question where we replace $P \in K\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle$ by a non commutative formal power series $S \in K\langle\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle\rangle$ . Here we assume that the matrices $M_1, \cdots, M_n$ have to be jointly nilpotent (i.e., any sufficiently long product $M_{i_1} M_{i_2} \cdots M_{i_k}$ is $0$).

Let $K$ be a (commutative) field. We can define the free $K$-algebra of polynomials in non commutative variables $x_1, \cdots, x_n$. It is usually denoted by $K\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle$.

Fix a non commutative polynomial $P \in K\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle$. For every natural number $m$ and every choice of matrices $M_1, \cdots, M_n \in {\rm M}_m(K)$, we can evaluate $P$ at $(M_1, \cdots, M_n)$ to obtain a matrix $P(M_1, \cdots, M_n) \in {\rm M}_m(K)$.

My question is : if the evaluation of $P$ on every $n$-tuple of $m\times m$-matrices $(M_1, \cdots, M_n)$ for every $m$ is $0$, is necessary $P = 0 \in K\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle$ ?

I don't know if the question is totally trivial.

1. In fact, if we restrict the condition to $m=1$, the answer is clearly no because the non commutative polynomial $x_1 x_2 - x_2 x_1$ for example is non zero. But it is yes if we consider polynomial in commutative variables.

2. Algebras ${\rm M}_m(K)$ are polynomial identity rings. In particular, the answer is no again if the condition $P(M_1, \cdots, M_n) =0$ only for all $M_1, \cdots, M_n \in {\rm M}_m(K)$ for a fixed $m$. Amitsur–Levitzki theorem gives an explicit counter-example.

Extension of the question : same question where we replace $P \in K\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle$ by a non commutative formal power series $S \in K\langle\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle\rangle$ . Here we assume that the matrices $M_1, \cdots, M_n$ have to be jointly nilpotent (i.e., any sufficiently long product $M_{i_1} M_{i_2} \cdots M_{i_k}$ is $0$).

I want to work on $K$ an algebraic closed (commutative) field of characteristic zero (even if it seems to be more general). We can define the free K-algebra of polynomials in non commutative variables $x_1, \cdots, x_n$. Il is usually denoted by $K\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle$.

Fix a non commutative polynomial $P \in K\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle$. For every natural number $m$ and every choice of matrices $M_1, \cdots, M_n \in {\rm M}_m(K)$, we can evaluate $P$ at $(M_1, \cdots, M_n)$ to obtain a matrix $P(M_1, \cdots, M_n) \in {\rm M}_m(K)$.

My question is : if the evaluation of $P$ on every matrices $(M_1, \cdots, M_n)$ for every $m$ is $0$, is necessary $P = 0 \in K\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle$ ?

I don't know if the question is totally trivial.

1. In fact, if we restrict the condition to $m=1$, the answer is clearly no because the non commutative polynomial $x_1 x_2 - x_2 x_1$ for example is non zero. But it is yes if we consider polynomial in commutative variables.

2. Algebras ${\rm M}_m(K)$ are polynomial rings. In particular, the answer is no again if the condition $P(M_1, \cdots, M_n) =0$ only for all $M_1, \cdots, M_n \in {\rm M}_m(K)$ for a fixed $m$. Amitsur–Levitzki theorem gives an explicit counter-example.

Extension of the question : same question where we replace $P \in K\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle$ by a non commutative formal power series $S \in K\langle\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle\rangle$ .

Thanks a lot for yours answers.

I want to work on $K$ an algebraic closed (commutative) field of characteristic zero (even if it seems to be more general). We can define the free $K$-algebra of polynomials in non commutative variables $x_1, \cdots, x_n$. It is usually denoted by $K\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle$.

Fix a non commutative polynomial $P \in K\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle$. For every natural number $m$ and every choice of matrices $M_1, \cdots, M_n \in {\rm M}_m(K)$, we can evaluate $P$ at $(M_1, \cdots, M_n)$ to obtain a matrix $P(M_1, \cdots, M_n) \in {\rm M}_m(K)$.

My question is : if the evaluation of $P$ on every $n$-tuple of $m\times m$-matrices $(M_1, \cdots, M_n)$ for every $m$ is $0$, is necessary $P = 0 \in K\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle$ ?

I don't know if the question is totally trivial.

1. In fact, if we restrict the condition to $m=1$, the answer is clearly no because the non commutative polynomial $x_1 x_2 - x_2 x_1$ for example is non zero. But it is yes if we consider polynomial in commutative variables.

2. Algebras ${\rm M}_m(K)$ are polynomial identity rings. In particular, the answer is no again if the condition $P(M_1, \cdots, M_n) =0$ only for all $M_1, \cdots, M_n \in {\rm M}_m(K)$ for a fixed $m$. Amitsur–Levitzki theorem gives an explicit counter-example.

Extension of the question : same question where we replace $P \in K\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle$ by a non commutative formal power series $S \in K\langle\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle\rangle$ . Here we assume that the matrices $M_1, \cdots, M_n$ have to be jointly nilpotent (i.e., any sufficiently long product $M_{i_1} M_{i_2} \cdots M_{i_k}$ is $0$).

I want to work on $K$ an algebraic closed (commutative) field of characteristic zero (even if it seems to be more general). We can define the free K-algebra of polynomials in non commutative variables $x_1, \cdots, x_n$. Il is usually denoted by $K\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle$.

Fix a non commutative polynomial $P \in K\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle$. For every natural number $m$ and every choice of matrices $M_1, \cdots, M_n \in {\rm M}_m(K)$, we can evaluate $P$ at $(M_1, \cdots, M_n)$ to obtain a matrix $P(M_1, \cdots, M_n) \in {\rm M}_m(K)$.

My question is : if the evaluation of $P$ on every matrices $(M_1, \cdots, M_n)$ for every $m$ is $0$, is necessary $P = 0 \in K\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle$ ?

I don't know if the question is totally trivial. In fact, if we restrict the condition to $m=1$, the answer is clearly no because the non commutative polynomial $x_1 x_2 - x_2 x_1$ is non zero.

I look at polynomial identity ring and an argument with the degree of $P$ can do the job maybe.

Extension of the question : same question where we replace $P \in K\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle$ by a non commutative formal power series $S \in K\langle\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle\rangle$ .

Thanks a lot for yours answers.

I want to work on $K$ an algebraic closed (commutative) field of characteristic zero (even if it seems to be more general). We can define the free K-algebra of polynomials in non commutative variables $x_1, \cdots, x_n$. Il is usually denoted by $K\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle$.

Fix a non commutative polynomial $P \in K\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle$. For every natural number $m$ and every choice of matrices $M_1, \cdots, M_n \in {\rm M}_m(K)$, we can evaluate $P$ at $(M_1, \cdots, M_n)$ to obtain a matrix $P(M_1, \cdots, M_n) \in {\rm M}_m(K)$.

My question is : if the evaluation of $P$ on every matrices $(M_1, \cdots, M_n)$ for every $m$ is $0$, is necessary $P = 0 \in K\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle$ ?

I don't know if the question is totally trivial.

1. In fact, if we restrict the condition to $m=1$, the answer is clearly no because the non commutative polynomial $x_1 x_2 - x_2 x_1$ for example is non zero. But it is yes if we consider polynomial in commutative variables.

2. Algebras ${\rm M}_m(K)$ are polynomial rings. In particular, the answer is no again if the condition $P(M_1, \cdots, M_n) =0$ only for all $M_1, \cdots, M_n \in {\rm M}_m(K)$ for a fixed $m$. Amitsur–Levitzki theorem gives an explicit counter-example.

Extension of the question : same question where we replace $P \in K\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle$ by a non commutative formal power series $S \in K\langle\langle x_1, \cdots, x_n \rangle\rangle$ .

Thanks a lot for yours answers.