Questions tagged [quaternions]

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69 views

Is there a quaternionic analogue of Weyl's character formula?

I am pondering about this. The definition of a character makes sense for quaternionic matrices. Indeed, given a quaternionic representation of a quaternionic matrix group such as $GL(n, \mathbb{H})$ ...
4 votes
2 answers
305 views

Lifting of map from $S^3$ to itself

My question concerns the lifting of degree $0$ map from $S^3$ to itself. Let us suppose that all maps are smooth here. Looking at $S^3$ as the space of unit quaternions, one way to define degree is ...
2 votes
0 answers
43 views

Geometric explanation of Fueter-Sce-Qian Theorem and similar situations

In Clifford analysis there is a fundamental theorem due to Fueter and extended by Sce and Qian that says (in modern terminology) that the given a slice regular function $f:\mathbb{R}^{m+1}\to\mathbb{R}...
2 votes
2 answers
679 views

Is there a definition of $\log(x)$ for quaternion/octonion $x$?

I'm trying to implement $\log({\bf q})$ in python, where ${\bf q} = (q_0,\ldots,q_7) \in \mathbb{O}$ is an octonion. There is a well known definition of $\log({\bf q})$ for quaternions ${\bf q} = (s,v)...
46 votes
6 answers
4k views

Is there a quaternionic algebraic geometry ?

Let $\mathbb{H}$ be the skew-field of quaternions. I'm aware of the Theorem 1. A function $f:\mathbb{H}\to\mathbb{H}$ which is $\mathbb{H}$-differentiable on the left (i.e. the usual limit $h^{-1}\...
1 vote
0 answers
30 views

Eigendecomposition of hyper-complex multiplication

There is an isomorphism between quaternions and $4\times 4$ matrices: $$ \phi: a+bi+cj+dk \longmapsto \begin{pmatrix} a&b&c&d \\ -b&a&-d&c\\ -c&d&a&-b\\ -d&-c&...
4 votes
1 answer
175 views

Subfields of division rings of degree $2$ which are not invariant

Let $A$ be a noncommutative division ring, and let $B$ be a sub division ring (here, $B$ is allowed to be commutative) of degree $2$. Are there easy examples known for which $B$ is not globally fixed ...
12 votes
0 answers
418 views

Is there a mistake in Zagier's "Hyperbolic manifolds and special values of Dedekind zeta-functions"?

I am having troubles with Don Zagier's "Hyperbolic manifolds and special values of Dedekind zeta-functions", available at this link, and I think there might be a mistake. In particular the ...
2 votes
1 answer
116 views

Polar decomposition with respect to the nonstandard involution of quaternionic matrices?

The quaternions admit infinitely many involutions. But up to isomorphism, there are only two: The standard one $t+xi+yj+zk\mapsto t-xi-yj-zk$ and the nonstandard one $\phi:t+xi+yj+zk\mapsto t-xi+yj+zk$...
26 votes
5 answers
3k views

Is it possible to "get" quaternions without specifically postulating them?

I know that quaternions were first invented to handle description of 3D and 4D rotations, just as 2D rotations can be described by complex numbers. On the other hand, non-natural numbers can be "...
27 votes
1 answer
2k views

The quaternion moat problem

"One cannot walk to infinity on the real line if one uses steps of bounded length and steps on the prime numbers. This is simply a restatement of the classic result that there are arbitrarily ...
2 votes
1 answer
95 views

Maximizing a skew-symmetric 4D cross product

How do I find two orthonormal 4D vectors, $(x_0,x_1,x_2,x_3)$ and $(y_0,y_1,y_2,y_3)$, which maximize this function: $-19x_1y_0 - 33x_2y_0 + 11x_3y_0 + 19x_0y_1 - 21x_2y_1 - 33x_3y_1 + 33x_0y_2 + ...
6 votes
2 answers
465 views

Volumes of fundamental domains of maximal orders in definite quaternion algebras over Q

I'm looking for an explanation of the following result: If D is a maximal order in a definite (i.e. ramified at infinity) quaternion algebra B over $\mathbb{Q}$, and $\phi : B\otimes\mathbb{R}\...
5 votes
1 answer
386 views

Motivating unpublished statements of Gauss about congruences and quaternions

Background Modern claims that Gauss anticipated the quaternions algebra are based primarily on an unpublished fragment of Gauss dated to 1819 and entitled "rotations of space". In this ...
4 votes
1 answer
217 views

Abelianization of unit quaternions over a p-adic field

Suppose $p$ is a prime, that $F$ is a finite extension of the field $\mathbb{Q}_p$, $D$ is the division quaternion algebra over $F$ and $\mathcal{O}_D$ is the valuation ring of $D$. What is the ...
6 votes
2 answers
2k views

Ramified quaternion algebras

I'm trying to better understand the connection between the concepts of ramification of a field extension, and ramification of a quaternion algebra. I'm also trying to build a better understanding of ...
1 vote
0 answers
438 views

Heat kernel on quaternion Heisenberg group

For the n Heisenberg($\Bbb C^n\times\Bbb R$) it is known that the heat kernel $q_s(z,t)=c_n\int_{\Bbb R} e^{-i\lambda t}\Big( \frac{\lambda}{\sinh(\lambda s)}\Big)^n e^{-\frac{\lambda|z|^2\coth(\...
2 votes
4 answers
630 views

How to prove that a quaternion algebra over ℤₚ is isomorphic to Mat₂(ℤₚ) for p prime?

How to prove without using advanced theorems that quaternions algebra $H = \genfrac(){}{}{-1,-1}{\mathbb{Z}_p}$, where $p$ is prime that $H \cong\operatorname{Mat}_2({\mathbb{Z}_p})$? My ideas: I ...
6 votes
4 answers
523 views

Generalizing contour integration to quaternions and bicomplex numbers

I am interested in the possibility of generalizing the notion of contour integration to the quaternions or bicomplex numbers. I am aware that the Frobenius theorem prevents the construction of a true ...
6 votes
0 answers
362 views

Is there a residue sum formula in quaternionic analysis?

In complex analysis, there is a formula involving the residues of complex functions that one can employ to find the value of certain infinite series. If the function $f: \mathbb{C} \to \mathbb{C} $ ...
5 votes
1 answer
177 views

Why is $\operatorname{U}(n,\mathbb{H})\subset \operatorname{SL}(n,\mathbb{H}) $?

This question is inspired by Maximal compact subgroup of $\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb{H})$. Consider the embedding $\operatorname{U}(n,\mathbb{H})\subset \operatorname{GL}(n,\mathbb{H}) $. Since $\...
9 votes
2 answers
677 views

Maximal compact subgroup of $\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb{H})$

$\DeclareMathOperator\Spin{Spin}\DeclareMathOperator\Sp{Sp}\DeclareMathOperator\SL{SL}$The exceptional isomorphism $\Spin(5,1)\simeq \SL(2,\mathbb{H})$ is well-known, and I can find references that ...
3 votes
0 answers
91 views

Nonassociative quaternion algebras

I'm interested in nonassociative central simple algebras; I've found Lee and Waterhouse's article 'Maximal Orders in Nonassociative Quaternion Algebras', and this cites a previous article by ...
8 votes
1 answer
240 views

Covolumes of unit groups of division algebras

Let $D$ be a central division (or maybe just simple) algebra over $\mathbb{Q}$. Let $\mathcal{O} \subset \mathcal{O}_m$ be an order inside a fixed maximal order and denote by $\mathcal{O}^1$ its group ...
3 votes
2 answers
471 views

The name of special 16-dimensional hypercomplex number

Let's consider the following number: $n = n_0 + n_1\textbf{i} + n_2\textbf{j} + n_3\textbf{k}$ Where $\{1,\textbf{i},\textbf{j},\textbf{k}\}\subset\mathbb{H}$ and in turn each component can be written ...
1 vote
0 answers
120 views

Conway's quaternion notation +1/3[C_3×C_3]∙2^(2) represent C_3h of 4d Point group?

In John Conway and Derek Smith's On Quaternions and Octonions: their Geometry, Arithmetic, and Symmetry, they introduce a way to connect quaternions to 4D Point Group. Suppose: $[l,r]:x\to \bar lxr\;,\...
1 vote
0 answers
88 views

Sequences generated from commuted quaternions and general commuted linear transformations

Given a pair of non-commuting linear transformations, $A$ and $B$, define the "next pair" in a sequence as $A*B$ and $B*A$. I am interested in finite cycles (i.e., the sequence eventually ...
3 votes
3 answers
654 views

Ramification of quaternion algebras over $\mathbb Q$

I'm reading on the classification of quaternion algebras over $\mathbb{Q}$. In the most common definition, we have a quaternion algebra $Q = \left(\frac{a,b}{\mathbb{Q}} \right)$ splits at a finite ...
2 votes
0 answers
72 views

Bézout theorem for complex solutions of systems of homogeneous quaternionic polynomials

Suppose that I have a system of $n$ homogeneous polynomials in $n+1$ variables $p_{1},\dots,p_{n}\in\mathbb{H}[x_{0},\dots,x_{n}]$ with coefficients at both sides in $\mathbb{H}.$ I want to know if ...
15 votes
1 answer
784 views

Why is the automorphism group of the octonions $G_2$ instead of $SO(7)$

I can calculate the derivation of the octonions and I clearly find the 14 generators that form the algebra of $G_2$. However, when I do the same calculation for the quaternions, I end up with the ...
3 votes
1 answer
119 views

Charaterisation of quaternion algebras

Let $k$ be a field, and $A$ an associative $k$-algebra with an identity element. Say that $A$ is quadratic if any subalgebra of $A$ generated by a single element has dimension at most two. I am ...
10 votes
1 answer
468 views

Diagonalizing quaternionic unitary matrices

The quaternionic unitary group $\mathrm{U}(n,\mathbb{H})$, also called the compact symplectic group $\mathrm{Sp}(n)$, consists of $n \times n$ quaternionic matrices $g$ such that $gg^\ast = 1$, where $...
3 votes
1 answer
346 views

Quaternions as eigenvalues of rank 3 tensors

Let us consider a matrix $M^{(a)}$ of size $N \times N$, having $N$ eigenvalues $\lambda_i \in \mathbb{C}$. Considering a rank-3 tensor, we can informally think of it as a sequence of $N$ matrices $M^{...
3 votes
1 answer
379 views

Norm of maximal order in quaternion algebra

Let $B$ be a quaternion algebra over $\mathbb{Q}$ that is a division algebra over $\mathbb{R}$. The theorem of Hasse-Schilling tells us that the image of the reduced norm of $B^\times$ is $\mathbb{R}^+...
2 votes
0 answers
163 views

Two generalizations of the Verblunsky Theorem

I learned from this paper about the Verblunsky theorem. My question is that: What kind of generalizations of this theorem is availlable? In particular I am interested in the following two possible ...
10 votes
1 answer
1k views

Explicit isomorphism for quaternion algebras over $\mathbb{Q}$?

It is known that the isomorphism class of a quaternion algebra $A=\binom{a,b}{K}$ over a number field $K$ is determined by the finite set of places $v$ of $K$ where $A\otimes_K K_v$ is a division ...
5 votes
2 answers
2k views

How do you find maximal orders in quaternion algebras?

Let A be the 4-dimensional algebra over Q with basis 1,i,j,k, and multiplication table $$ i^2 = -1 \quad j^2 = -11 \quad k^2 = -11 \quad ij = k \quad jk = 11i \quad ki = j $$ So, A is the unique "...
2 votes
0 answers
164 views

Sylow 2-subgroups of finite groups in which every subgroup of order 4 is cyclic

Let $G$ be a finite group. Assume that every subgroup of order 4 in $G$ is cyclic (as happens if $G$ is a cyclic group or a generalized quaternion group). It seems to me that it should follow that a ...
2 votes
1 answer
299 views

3D similarities and quaternions?

As is well-known, in dimension 2, a linear map $f : \mathbb{R}^2 \rightarrow \mathbb{R}^2$ is a direct similarity if, once we identify $\mathbb{R}^2$ with $\mathbb{C}$, $f$ is of the form $$\forall z \...
1 vote
0 answers
107 views

Control and observability of Clifford algebra and quaternion valued systems?

Good evening everybody, I'm asking you if there is a mathematical theory about control and observability of differential systems within the quaternionic and Clifford (geometric) algebras. And if so, ...
4 votes
1 answer
458 views

Question about the correspondence between unitary Möbius transformations and quaternions

One of the main theorems about the classification of Möbius transformations states that pure rotations of the Riemann sphere (without translation and dilatation) correspond to unitary Möbius ...
8 votes
3 answers
616 views

What other lattices are obtainable from this noncommutative ring?

Here I will regard $SU(2)$ as the multiplicative group of unit quaternions. There are just three conjugacy classes of finite subgroups $G < SU(2)$ where $[G:C] > 2$ for all cyclic subgroups $C &...
1 vote
1 answer
259 views

Are there algorithms for deciding or solving conjugacy in integer quaternion rings?

I am doing some research on the quaternions and their role in Non-commutative cryptography. I have found a number of articles, but it is still unclear to me if there is a known solution to the ...
0 votes
1 answer
378 views

Conjugacy in the quaternion group

Let $G$ be a non-commutative group, and suppose we are given two elements $x, y \in G$ which are conjugate, i.e. we know there exists some $z \in G$ such that $zxz^{-1} = y$. Can we find $z$ given $x$ ...
5 votes
2 answers
407 views

How can the Cayley table for the elements of basis of a Cayley-Dickson algebra be summarized in an algebraic expression?

One would be able to construct a Cayley table that has all $e_i$ elements of the basis of algebra $A$ where $0<i<\dim A$ such that $e_0=1$, $e_1=i$, $e_2=j$ and so on. I'm looking for an ...
4 votes
2 answers
602 views

Principled construction of the quaternions

Is there a construction of the quaternions that doesn't proceed through generators and relations, and which makes the connection with 3D rotations clear? I'm not happy with Clifford Algebra as an ...
25 votes
1 answer
2k views

history of quaternion algebras

Who is responsible for the generalization of Hamilton's quaternions to other types of quaternion algebras, and when did this occur? In particular, Hamilton's quaternions are the 4-dimensional algebra ...
9 votes
1 answer
783 views

Representing a number as a sum of four squares and factorization

Rabin and Shallit have a randomized polynomial-time algorithm to express an integer $n$ as a sum of four squares $n=a^2+b^2+c^2+d^2$ (in time $\log(n)^2$ assuming the Extended Riemann Hypothesis). I'...
6 votes
1 answer
290 views

Idempotent functions on Sp(1)

The quaternion group $Sp(1)\simeq S^3$ can be understood as $(z,w)\in\mathbb {C}^2$ with $|z|^2+|w|^2=1$ where multiplication is defined by $(z,w)(t,s)=(zt-\bar{s}w,zs+\bar{t}w)$. Question: How do ...
3 votes
1 answer
223 views

How many distinct quaternions have a given prime norm $p$?

I seem to recall that the answer is $p + 1$, but I'm not quite sure.