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Mikhail Borovoi
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Coordinate-free description of an alternating trilinear form on pure octonions

Let $O$ denote the division algebra of octonions over $\Bbb R$, and write $V$ for the 7-dimensional quotient space $O/{\Bbb R}$. The compact group $G_2:={\rm Aut}(O)$ naturally acts on $V$, and clearly the 7-dimensional representation of $G_2$ in $V$ is isomorphic to its representation in the space of pure octonions.

I know from a classification of alternating trilinear forms in dimension 7 that there exists a $G_2$-invariant alternating trilinear form on $V$.

Question. What is a coordinate-free description of a $G_2$-invariant alternating trilinear form on $V$?

Mikhail Borovoi
  • 14.2k
  • 2
  • 32
  • 72