The zero divisors of the Cayley-Dickson algebras over the real numbers (Q1128248): Difference between revisions

The Cayley-Dickson algebras are described in \textit{L. E. Dickson}'s classic tract [Linear algebras, Cambridge University Press (1914; JFM 45.0189.01), p. 15]. These are real linear algebras of dimension \(2^n\). Interestingly, all nonzero elements in these algebras have multiplicative inverses. However, \textit{M. A. Kervaire} [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 44, 280-283 (1958; Zbl 0093.37303)] and \textit{J. Milnor} [Ann. Math. (2) 68, 444-449 (1958; Zbl 0085.17301)] proved that a finite-dimensional real division algebra has dimension 1, 2, 4 or 8. Hence, the Cayley-Dickson algebras of dimension 16 and higher have zero divisors. Specific zero divisors in the case of dimension 16 were presented by the reviewer and \textit{J. Weidner} in [Am. Math. Mon. 85, 368-371 (1978; Zbl 0404.17003)]. The author describes the zero divisors of all Cayley-Dickson algebras of dimension 16 and higher.