Absolute valued algebras with an involution (Q1105677)

Let A be an absolute valued real algebra [see \textit{A. A. Albert}, Ann. Math., II. Ser. 48, 495-501 (1947; Zbl 0029.01001)] with an involution, \(A_ a\) (respectively \(A_ s)\) its set of self-adjoint (respectively skew) elements. Then, if \(A_ s\neq 0\), there exists one and only one idempotent e in \(A_ a\) such that \(x^ 2=\| x^ 2\| e\), \(y^ 2=-\| y^ 2\| e\), for any x in \(A_ a\) and y in \(A_ s\). Let us consider the subalgebra \(B={\mathbb{R}}e+A_ s\). It is shown in this paper that if B is finite dimensional then \(A=B.\) This result is used to prove that any absolute valued algebraic algebra with involution is isotopic either to the real \({\mathbb{R}}\), complex \({\mathbb{C}}\), quaternion \({\mathbb{H}}\) or octonion algebra \({\mathbb{D}}\). Moreover, if A contains a central element satisfying \((a,a,x)=0\) for all x in A (here \((a,b,c)=(ab)c-a(bc))\), then A is isomorphic to \({\mathbb{R}}\), \({\mathbb{C}}\), \({\mathbb{H}}\) or \({\mathbb{D}}\); and if A is third power associative then it is isomorphic either to \({\mathbb{R}}\), \({\mathbb{C}}\), \({\mathbb{H}}\), \({\mathbb{D}}\) or the paraquadratic, paraquaternion or para-octonion algebra.