About nonassociativity in mathematics and physics (Q1383866)

This paper constitutes a review of some key aspects of the theory of nonassociative algebras, with special emphasis on the area covered by the authors; together with some discussion of potential future applications. It starts with a historical introduction of the ``hypercomplex numbers'' and a review of the main classes of nonassociative algebras. Then it proceeds to review physical applications. Three approaches to these applications are considered: octonionic approach, Lie-admissible approach and quasigroup approach. An expanded and more detailed account of this paper is given in a monograph by the same authors [Nonassociative Algebras in Physics (Hadronic Press, Palm Harbor)(1994; Zbl 0840.17001)].