Peak algebras in combinatorial Hopf algebras

Abstract: The peak algebra is originally introduced by Stembridge using enriched $P$-partitions. Using the character theory by Aguiar-Bergeron-Sottile, the peak algebra is also the image of $\Theta$, the universal morphism between certain combinatorial Hopf algebras. We extend the notion of peak algebras and theta maps to shuffle, tensor, and symmetric algebras. As examples, we study the peak algebras of symmetric functions in non-commuting variables and the graded associated Hopf algebra on permutations. We also introduce a new shuffle basis of quasi-symmetric functions that its elements are the eigenfunctions of $\Theta$. Using this new basis, we show that the peak algebra is the space spanned by the set of shuffle basis elements indexed by compositions whose all parts are odd.