Asymptotics of powers of random elements of compact Lie groups

For a Haar-distributed element $H$ of a compact Lie group $L$, Eric Rains proved that there is a natural number $D = D_L$ such that, for all $d\ge D$, the eigenvalue distribution of $H^d$ is fixed, and Rains described this fixed eigenvalue distribution explicitly. In the present paper we consider random elements $U$ of a compact Lie group with general distribution. In particular, we introduce a mild absolute continuity condition under which the eigenvalue distribution of powers of $U$ converges to that of $H^D$. Then, rather than the eigenvalue distribution, we consider the limiting distribution of $U^d$ itself.