Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Other

Series

Research Vignettes

Dynamical Systems

Articles 1 - 1 of 1

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

The Octonions And The Exceptional Lie Algebra G2, Ian M. Anderson Sep 2012

The Octonions And The Exceptional Lie Algebra G2, Ian M. Anderson

Research Vignettes

The octonions O are an 8-dimensional non-commutative, non-associative normed real algebra. The set of all derivations of O form a real Lie algebra. It is remarkable fact, first proved by E. Cartan in 1908, that the the derivation algebra of O is the compact form of the exceptional Lie algebra G2. In this worksheet we shall verify this result of Cartan and also show that the derivation algebra of the split octonions is the split real form of G2.

PDF and Maple worksheets can be downloaded from the links below.