On classification of orthogonal multiplications à la do Carmo-Wallach (Q1085855)

Orthogonal multiplications \(F: {\mathbb{R}}^ n\times {\mathbb{R}}^ n\to {\mathbb{R}}^ p\) are important in the theory of harmonic mappings [see \textit{R. T. Smith}, Am. J. Math. 97, 364-385 (1975; Zbl 0321.57020)]. For any such F determines a harmonic map \(f: S^{2n-1}\to S^ p\) defined by \[ f(x,y)=(\| x\|^ 2-\| y\|^ 2,\quad 2F(x,y)), \] x,y\(\in {\mathbb{R}}^ n\), \(\| x\|^ 2+\| y\|^ 2=1\). The Hopf maps \(f: S^{2n-1}\to S^ n\), \(n=2,4,8\), are important examples. The author classifies the range equivalence classes of full orthogonal multiplications \(F: {\mathbb{R}}^ n\times {\mathbb{R}}^ n\to {\mathbb{R}}^ p\), \(n\leq p\leq n^ 2\), by parametrizing them as a compact convex body lying in so(n)\(\otimes so(n)\). The dimension of this space of equivalence classes is shown to be \((n^ 2/(n-1)^ 2)/4-n(n-1)\).