Projective geometry with Clifford algebra

Projective geometry is formulated in the language of geometric algebra, a unified mathematical language based on Clifford algebra. This closes the gap between algebraic and synthetic approaches to projective geometry and facilitates connections with the rest of mathematics.This work was partially supported by NSF grant MSM-8645151.     

Clifford algebras and geometric algebra

The geometric algebra as defined by D. Hestenes is compared with a constructive definition of Clifford algebras. Both approaches are discussed and the equivalence between a finite geometric algebra and the universal Clifford algebra R _{p, q} is shown. Also an intermediate way to construct Clifford algebras is sketched. This attempt to conciliate two separated approaches may be useful taking into account the recognized importance of Clifford algebras in theoretical and applied physics.     

A Clifford Algebraic Approach to Line Geometry

In this paper we combine methods from projective geometry, Klein’s model, and Clifford algebra. We develop a Clifford algebra whose Pin group is a double cover of the group of regular projective transformations. The Clifford algebra we use is constructed as homogeneous model for the five-dimensional real projective space \({\mathbb {P}^5 (\mathbb{R})}\) where Klein’s quadric \({M^4_2}\) defines the quadratic form. We discuss all entities that can be represented naturally in this homogeneous Clifford algebra model. Projective automorphisms of Klein’s quadric induce projective transformations of \({\mathbb {P}^3 (\mathbb{R})}\) and vice versa. Cayley-Klein geometries can be represented by Clifford algebras, where the group of Cayley-Klein isometries is given by the Pin group of the corresponding Clifford algebra. Therefore, we examine the versor group and study the correspondence between versors and regular projective transformations represented as 4 × 4 matrices. Furthermore, we give methods to compute a versor corresponding to a given projective transformation.     

Factorisations des extensions galoisiennes

ABSTRACT

In general, Clifford algebras of quadratic forms are finite dimensional; therefore, their representations are easy to describe. However, for homogenous polynomial forms of degree dbm > 2, the situation is different because their Clifford algebras are infinite dimensional. In this article, we get a finite set of pairwise orthogonal idempotents of sum 1 in these algebras. This permits us to obtain interesting properties for d-dimensional representations of polynomial forms of degree d; for example, we show that the image C of the Clifford algebra by such representation is an endomorphism algebra of finitely generated projective Z(C)-module of d-rank, direct sum of finitely generated projective Z(C)-module of 1-rank. Before establishing this, we give a new proof of the Poincaré-Birkhoff-Witt theorem for these algebras with the help of a general composition lemma. At the end of this work, we give a linearization of diagonal binary and ternary forms of degree dbm > 3.     

Conformal representations of Leibniz algebras

We study the embedding construction of Lie dialgebras (Leibniz algebras) into conformal algebras. This construction leads to the concept of a conformal representation of Leibniz algebras. We prove that each (finite-dimensional) Leibniz algebra possesses a faithful linear representation (of finite type). As a corollary we give a new proof of the Poincaré-Birkhoff-Witt theorem for Leibniz algebras.     

Isomorphism groups in Clifford algebras

A set of anticommuting multivectors in Clifford algebras can be taken as orthonormal basis set. The Clifford algebra generated by this basis is isomorphic to the original algebra. The non linear transformations between orthonormal basis sets form a group. In the four dimensionnal case six sets of five anticommuting multivectors are found. These sets yield 30 matrices defining basis sets. These matrices are representatives of left cosets, members of these cosets are related by permutation of rows. From the equivalence of all basis sets of multivectors it can be concluded that there is no canonical set of basis vectors in Clifford algebras.     

Extended Grassmann and Clifford Algebras

This paper is intended to investigate Grassmann and Clifford algebras over Peano spaces, introducing their respective associated extended algebras, and to explore these concepts also from the counterspace viewpoint. The presented formalism explains how the concept of chirality stems from the bracket, as defined by Rota et all [1]. The exterior (regressive) algebra is shown to share the exterior (progressive) algebra in the direct sum of chiral and achiral subspaces. The duality between scalars and volume elements, respectively under the progressive and the regressive products is shown to have chirality, in the case when the dimension n of the Peano space is even. In other words, the counterspace volume element is shown to be a scalar or a pseudoscalar, depending on the dimension of the vector space to be respectively odd or even. The de Rham cochain associated with the differential operator is constituted by a sequence of exterior algebra homogeneous subspaces subsequently chiral and achiral. Thus we prove that the exterior algebra over the space and the exterior algebra constructed on the counterspace are only pseudoduals each other, if we introduce chirality. The extended Clifford algebra is introduced in the light of the periodicity theorem of Clifford algebras context, wherein the Clifford and extended Clifford algebras can be embedded in which is shown to be exactly the extended Clifford algebra. We present the essential character of the Rota’s bracket, relating it to the formalism exposed by Conradt [25], introducing the regressive product and subsequently the counterspace. Clifford algebras are constructed over the counterspace, and the duality between progressive and regressive products is presented using the dual Hodge star operator. The differential and codifferential operators are also defined for the extended exterior algebras from the regressive product viewpoint, and it is shown they uniquely tumble right out progressive and regressive exterior products of 1-forms. R. da Rocha is supported by CAPES     

On some relations between spinor and orthogonal groups

In this article we consider Clifford algebras over the field of real numbers of finite dimension. We define the operation of Hermitian conjugation for the elements of Clifford algebra. This operation allows us to define the structure of Euclidian space on the Clifford algebra. We consider pseudo-orthogonal group and its subgroups — special pseudo-orthogonal, orthochronous, orthochorous and special orthochronous groups. As we know, spinor groups are double covers of these orthogonal groups.We proved theorem that relates the norm of element of spinor group to the minor of matrix of the corresponding orthogonal group.     

Geometric Algebra in Linear Algebra and Geometry

This article explores the use of geometric algebra in linear and multilinear algebra, and in affine, projective and conformal geometries. Our principal objective is to show how the rich algebraic tools of geometric algebra are fully compatible with and augment the more traditional tools of matrix algebra. The novel concept of an h-twistor makes possible a simple new proof of the striking relationship between conformal transformations in a pseudo-Euclidean space to isometries in a pseudo-Euclidean space of two higher dimensions. The utility of the h-twistor concept, which is a generalization of the idea of a Penrose twistor to a pseudo-Euclidean space of arbitrary signature, is amply demonstrated in a new treatment of the Schwarzian derivative.     

Development of the Method of Quaternion Typification of Clifford Algebra Elements

In this paper we further develop the method of quaternion typification of Clifford algebra elements suggested by the author in the previous papers. On the basis of new classification of Clifford algebra elements, it is possible to reveal and prove a number of new properties of Clifford algebras. We use k-fold commutators and anticommutators. In this paper we consider Clifford and exterior degrees and elementary functions of Clifford algebra elements.     

Skew Clifford algebras

We introduce a generalization, called a skew Clifford algebra, of a Clifford algebra, and relate these new algebras to the notion of graded skew Clifford algebra that was defined in 2010. In particular, we examine homogenizations of skew Clifford algebras, and determine which skew Clifford algebras can be homogenized to create Artin-Schelter regular algebras. Just as (classical) Clifford algebras are the Poincaré-Birkhoff-Witt (PBW) deformations of exterior algebras, skew Clifford algebras are the ${\mathbb{Z}}_2$-graded PBW deformations of quantum exterior algebras. We also determine the possible dimensions of skew Clifford algebras and provide several examples.     

Graded Associative Conformal Algebras of Finite Type

In this paper, we consider graded associative conformal algebras. The class of these objects includes pseudo-algebras over non-cocommutative Hopf algebras of regular functions on some linear algebraic groups. In particular, an associative conformal algebra which is graded by a finite group Γ is a pseudo-algebra over the coordinate Hopf algebra of a linear algebraic group G such that the identity component G ⁰ is the affine line and G/G ⁰???Γ. A classification of simple and semisimple graded associative conformal algebras of finite type is obtained.     

Cyclic Structures of Cliffordian Supergroups and Particle Representations of Spin+(1, 3)

Supergroups are defined in the framework of \({\mathbb{Z}_2}\) 2-graded Clifford algebras over the fields of real and complex numbers, respectively. It is shown that cyclic structures of complex and real supergroups are defined by Brauer-Wall groups related with the modulo 2 and modulo 8 periodicities of the complex and real Clifford algebras. Particle (fermionic and bosonic) representations of a universal covering (spinor group Spin ₊(1, 3)) of the proper orthochronous Lorentz group are constructed via the Clifford algebra formalism. Complex and real supergroups are defined on the representation system of Spin ₊(1, 3). It is shown that a cyclic (modulo 2) structure of the complex supergroup is equivalent to a supersymmetric action, that is, it converts fermionic representations into bosonic representations and vice versa. The cyclic action of the real supergroup leads to a much more high-graded symmetry related with the modulo 8 periodicity of the real Clifford algebras. This symmetry acts on the system of real representations of Spin ₊(1, 3).     

Unitary Spaces on Clifford Algebras

For the complex Clifford algebra (p, q) of dimension n = p + q we define a Hermitian scalar product. This scalar product depends on the signature (p, q) of Clifford algebra. So, we arrive at unitary spaces on Clifford algebras. With the aid of Hermitian idempotents we suggest a new construction of, so called, normal matrix representations of Clifford algebra elements. These representations take into account the structure of unitary space on Clifford algebra. The work of N.M. is supported in part by the Russian President’s grant NSh-6705.2006.1.     

Diffeological Clifford algebras and pseudo-bundles of Clifford modules

Abstract

We consider the diffeological version of the Clifford algebra of a diffeological finite dimensional vector space; we start by commenting on the notion of a diffeological algebra (which is the expected analogue of the usual one) and that of a diffeological module (also an expected counterpart of the usual notion). After considering the natural diffeology of the Clifford algebra, and considering which of its standard properties re-appear in the diffeological context (most of them), we turn to our main interest, which is constructing the pseudo-bundles of Clifford algebras associated to a given (finite dimensional) diffeological vector pseudo-bundle, and those of the usual Clifford modules (the exterior algebras). The substantial difference that emerges with respect to the standard context, and paves the way to various questions that do not have standard analogues, stems from the fact that the notion of a diffeological pseudo-bundle is very different from the usual bundle, and this under two main respects: it may have fibres of different dimensions, and even if it does not, its total and base spaces frequently are not smooth, or even topological, manifolds.     

Algebraically flat or projective algebras

We define and study algebraically flat algebras in order to have a better understanding of algebraically projective algebras of finite type (the projective algebras of literature). A close examination of the differential properties of these algebras leads to our main structure theorem. As a corollary, we get that an algebraically projective algebra of finite type over a field is either a polynomial ring or the affine algebra of a complete intersection.     

Classification of Lie algebras of specific type in complexified Clifford algebras

We give a full classification of Lie algebras of specific type in complexified Clifford algebras. These 16 Lie algebras are direct sums of subspaces of quaternion types. We obtain isomorphisms between these Lie algebras and classical matrix Lie algebras in the cases of arbitrary dimension and signature. We present 16 Lie groups: one Lie group for each Lie algebra associated with this Lie group. We study connection between these groups and spin groups.     

A module-theoretic approach to Clifford theory for blocks

This work concerns a generalization of Clifford theory to blocks of group-graded algebras. A module-theoretic approach is taken to prove a one-to-one correspondence between the blocks of a fully group-graded algebra covering a given block of its identity component, and conjugacy classes of blocks of a twisted group algebra. In particular, this applies to blocks of a finite group covering blocks of a normal subgroup.

     

Discriminant and Clifford algebras

The centralizer of a square-central skew-symmetric unit in a central simple algebra with orthogonal involution carries a unitary involution. The discriminant algebra of this unitary involution is shown to be an orthogonal summand in one of the components of the Clifford algebra of the orthogonal involution. As an application, structure theorems for orthogonal involutions on central simple algebras of degree 8 are obtained. Received: 30 January 2001; in final form: 28 May 2001 / Published online: 1 February 2002     

Einstein’s equations and Clifford algebra

Einstein’s equations of the general theory of relativity are rewritten within a Clifford algebra. This algebra is otherwise isomorphic to a direct product of two quaternion algebras. A multivector calculus is developed within this Clifford algebra which differs from the corresponding complexified algebra used in the standard spacetime algebra approach.