Twisted descent algebras and the Solomon-Tits algebra

The purpose of the present article is to define and study a new class of descent algebras, called twisted descent algebras. These algebras are associated to the Barratt-Joyal theory of twisted bialgebras in the same way than classical descent algebras are associated to classical bialgebras. The formal properties of twisted descent algebras seem particularly meaningful in view of applications to discrete probabilities, to the geometry of Coxeter groups and buildings, and to symmetric group combinatorics.