Idempotent structure of Clifford algebras (Q1111656): Difference between revisions

Spinor spaces can be represented as minimal left ideals of Clifford algebras and they are generated by primitive idempotents. Primitive idempotents of the Clifford algebras \({\mathbb{R}}_{p,q}\) are shown to be products of mutually nonannihilating commuting idempotent factors \(1/2(1+e_ T)\), where the \(k=q-r_{q-p}\) basis elements \(e_ T\) satisfy \(e^ 2_ T=1\). The lattice generated by a set of mutually annihilating primitive idempotents is examined. The final result characterizes all Clifford algebras \(R_{p,q}\) with an anti-involution such that each symmetric element is either a nilpotent or then some right multiple of it is a nonzero symmetric idempotent. This happens when \(p+q\leq 3\) and (p,q)\(\neq (2,1)\).