The Geometry of the Octonions (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9789814401814)

There are precisely two further generalizations of the real and complex numbers, namely, the quaternions and the octonions. The quaternions naturally describe rotations in three dimensions. In fact, all (continuous) symmetry groups are based on one of these four number systems. This book provides an elementary introduction to the properties of the octonions, with emphasis on their geometric structure. Elementary applications covered include the rotation groups and their spacetime generalization, the Lorentz group, as well as the eigenvalue problem for Hermitian matrices. In addition, more sophisticated applications include the exceptional Lie groups, octonionic projective spaces, and applications to particle physics including the remarkable fact that classical supersymmetry only exists in particular spacetime dimensions.

Author: Tevian Dray, Corinne A. Manogue
ISBN-10: 9814401811
ISBN-13: 9789814401814
Publisher: World Scientific Publishing Company
Language: English
Published: 05/01/2015
Pages: 228
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.05lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.56d