Graded division algebras over the field of real numbers (Q1783400)

Let \(k\) be a field. A finite dimensional unital algebra \(R\) over \(k\) graded by an abelian group \(G\) is called graded division if every nonzero homogeneous element is invertible. Note that every graded division algebra is graded simple, but not necessarily simple as an ungraded algebra. In reverse, due to the graded analogues of Schur's lemma and the density theorem, any finite-dimensional graded simple algebra is isomorphic to an endomorphism algebra \(\text{End}_D(V)\), where \(V\) is a finite dimensional graded vector space and \(D\) is a graded division algebra. In the present paper, the authors give a complete classification of real (finite-dimensional) graded division algebras. A complete classification of graded division algebras was known previously only if the base field is algebraically closed, see [the author et al., J. Algebra 241, No. 2, 677--698 (2001; Zbl 0988.16033)] and [the authors, Can. Math. Bull. 45, No. 4, 499--508 (2002; Zbl 1022.16032)]. The proof is given on a case by case basis for a \(G\)-graded division algebra \(R = \bigoplus_{g\in G} R_g\). We briefly review the cases used in the present paper: \begin{itemize} \item Case 1 (Theorem 5.1): \(R\) is the real graded algebra given by restricting scalars in a complex graded division algebra. Such a grading is called a Pauli or Sylvester grading. \item Case 2 (Theorem 6.4): \(R\) is commutative. \item Case 3 (Theorem 8.9): \(R\) is noncommutative with \(1\)-dimensional homogeneous components. \item Case 4 (Theorem 10.5): \(R\) has \(2\)-dimensional homogeneous components and \(R_e\) is not central. \item Case 5 (Theorem 11.1): \(R\) has \(4\)-dimensional homogeneous components. \end{itemize}