Clifford structures on real vector spaces and manifolds (Q1178366)

With the universal free algebra --- the Clifford algebra \(C(p,q)\) generated by the unit \(e_ 0=1\) and the \(n\) vectors \(e_ i\) such that \(e^ 2_ i=1\) for \(i=1,2,...,p\), \(e^ 2_ i=-1\) for \(i=p+1,p+2,\dots,k\), \(e_ ie_ j+e_ je_ i=0\) for \(i=j\), a \((\mathbb{Z}_ 2)^ k\)-graded decomposition of Clifford algebras \(C(p,q)\) \((p+q=k)\) is defined with the definition of gradation based on a given system of generators, namely, \(\Omega=C(1,0)\), \(S_ 0=C(0,1)\), \(H=C(0,2)\) and \(N=C(1,1)=C(2,0)\), and a system of reduction formulae. Using this graded formulation of Clifford algebras, the author constructs Clifford structures on a real vector space \(V\) on a manifold \(M\). In either case the structures are introduced as a suitable set of automorphisms or as a set of suitable tensor fields of type \((1,1)\) on \(M\) respectively. Clifford metric spaces are also considered as a pair \((Cl^ d,g^{Cl})\), where \(Cl^ d\) is a Clifford module and \(g^{Cl}\) is a Clifford-valued metric on \(Cl\). Some open problems are put forward, e.g., the relation between gradations based on different systems of generators of this algebra and the existence of Clifford structures on a manifold with non-zero curvature. Some examples of Clifford structures are given explicitly in the appendix.