Hopf mappings for complex quaternions (Q1866614): Difference between revisions

The Hopf map \(\eta\) associated with the (real) quaternion skew field \({\mathbb H}\) is defined by \(\eta : \{(x,y) \in {\mathbb H}^2 \mid \|x\|^2 + \|y\|^2 = 1\} \to \text{ P}_1{\mathbb H} \), \ \((x,y) \mapsto (x,y){\mathbb H} \). Here, \(\text{ P}_1{\mathbb H} \approx {\mathbb S}_4\) is the projective line over \({\mathbb H}\). Thus, \(\eta\) is a fibering of \({\mathbb S}_7\) over \({\mathbb S}_4\) with fibers \({\mathbb S}_3\). In the first three sections, the author discusses very explicitly the map \(\eta\) and, in particular, how \(\eta\) yields the well-known isomorphism \(\text{ PSL}_2{\mathbb H} \cong \text{ PO}^+_{5,1}{\mathbb R}\) [see, e.g., the ref. et al. Compact projective planes, Berlin: de Gruyter (1995; Zbl 0851.51003), (15.6); or \textit{L. Kramer}, J. Reine Angew. Math. 563, 83-113 (2003), \S 3]. He then introduces the complex quaternion algebra \(\tilde{\mathbb H}\) in the usual way as the tensor product \({\mathbb H}{\otimes}_{\mathbb R}{\mathbb C}\). Most of the formulæ that have been derived in the case of the real quaternions can be extended to the complex situation. In this way, \(\tilde\eta\) provides an isomorphism \(\text{ GL}_2\tilde{\mathbb H}/{\mathbb C}^{\times} \cong \text{ SO}_6{\mathbb C}/\{\pm 1\}\). Restricting \(\tilde{\mathbb H}\) to a suitable \(4\)-dimensional real subalgebra leads to a kind of Hopf mapping onto the Klein quadric and the corresponding group isomorphism.