A Note on the Free and Cyclic Differential Calculus

In 2000, Voiculescu proved an algebraic characterization of cyclic gradients of noncommutative polynomials. We extend this remarkable result in two different directions: first, we obtain an analogous characterization of free gradients; second, we lift both of these results to Voiculescu’s fundamental framework of multivariable generalized difference quotient rings. For that purpose, we develop the concept of divergence operators, for both free and cyclic gradients, and study the associated (weak) grading and cyclic symmetrization operators, respectively. One the one hand, this puts a new complexion on the initial polynomial case, and on the other hand, it provides a uniform framework within which also other examples - such as a discrete version of the It^o stochastic integral - can be treated.