On the characteristic polynomial of Cartan matrices and Chebyshev polynomials

Abstract: We explore some interesting features of the characteristic polynomial of the Cartan matrix of a simple Lie algebra. The characteristic polynomial is closely related with the Chebyshev polynomials of first and second kind. In addition, we give explicit formulas for the characteristic polynomial of the Coxeter adjacency matrix, we compute the associated polynomials and use them to derive the Coxeter polynomial of the underlying graph. We determine the expression of the Coxeter and associated polynomials as a product of cyclotomic factors. We use this data to propose an algorithm for factoring Chebyshev polynomials over the integers. Finally, we prove an interesting formula which involves products of sines, the exponents, the Coxeter number and the determinant of the Cartan matrix.