# Average of product of matrix elements in irreducible representations of unitary groups

Let $$\mathcal{U}(N)$$ be the unitary group.

It is well known that $$\int_{\mathcal{U}(N)} U_{ij} U^\dagger_{nm} \,dU=\delta_{im}\delta_{jn}\frac{1}{N},$$ where $$dU$$ is the Haar measure.

More complicated averages can also be computed, such as $$\int_{\mathcal{U}(N)} |U_{11}|^2|U_{12}|^2 \,dU = \frac{1}{N(N+1)}.$$

Now, let $$R_\lambda$$ be an irreducible representation of $$\mathcal{U}(N)$$ which is different from the fundamental one. Then, the main orthogonality still holds, $$\int_{\mathcal{U}(N)} [R_\lambda(U)]_{ij}[R_\lambda(U^\dagger)]_{nm} \, dU = \delta_{im} \delta_{jn} \frac{1}{d_\lambda(N)},$$ with the denominator replaced by the dimension of the irrep.

My question is: are there calculations of such integrals involving more matrix elements? Like $$\int_{\mathcal{U}(N)} \Bigl|[R_\lambda(U)]_{11}\Bigr|^2\Bigl|[R_\lambda(U)]_{12}\Bigr|^2 dU=\text{?}$$

• We have the Schur orthogonality relations that say $\int_G \langle\pi_1(g)v_1, w_1\rangle\overline{\langle\pi_2(g)v_2, w_2\rangle}\mathrm dg = \begin{cases} 0, & \pi_1 \simeq \pi_2 \\ \langle v_1, v_2\rangle\overline{\langle w_1, w_2\rangle}, & \pi_1 = \pi_2. \end{cases}$. If I understand your notation correctly, this answers your question. – LSpice Feb 8 '19 at 2:53
• @LSpice No, your integral involves only two matrix elements. I ask for a generalization. – Marcel Feb 8 '19 at 15:50

One can reduce your more complicated example which is of the form $$\int_{U(n)} \langle a, R_{\lambda}(U)b\rangle \langle c, R_{\lambda}(U)d\rangle \times ({\rm complex\ conjugate}) \ dU$$ for some vectors $$a,b,c,d$$ to the simpler case with two matrix elements as follows.
Use $$\langle a, R_{\lambda}(U)b\rangle \langle c, R_{\lambda}(U)d\rangle = \langle a\otimes c, (R_{\lambda}(U)\otimes R_{\lambda}(U)) b\otimes d\rangle\ ,$$ and then the decomposition into irreducibles of $$R_{\lambda}\otimes R_{\lambda}$$.
The catch though is that this requires not only the Littlewood-Richardson rule (which says what irreducibles occur and with what multiplicity), but a very explicit form of it which involves the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients (or analogues of Wigner's $$3jm$$ symbols) for $$U(n)$$. As far as I know, there are no good formulas for them in full generality. Some references: this article by Elvang, Cvitanović and Kennedy or the multivolume series on "Representation of Lie Groups and Special Functions" by Vilenkin and Klimyk.