Symmetric spaces as Grassmannians (Q1949790)

Let \({\mathbb A}={\mathbb K}\bigotimes_{\mathbb R}{\mathbb L}=:{\mathbb K}{\mathbb L}\) where \(\mathbb K\), \(\mathbb L\) are two associative division algebras, \({\mathbb K}, {\mathbb L}\in\{{\mathbb R}, {\mathbb C}, {\mathbb H}\}\). This becomes an associative algebra with the multiplication \((u\otimes x) (v\otimes y)= uv\otimes xy\) for \(u, v\in {\mathbb K}\) and \(x, y\in {\mathbb L}\). In the paper [\textit{Y. Huang} and \textit{N. C. Leung}, Math. Ann. 350, No. 1, 79--106 (2011; Zbl 1280.53050)], compact symmetric spaces are represented as (structured) Grassmannians over the algebra \({\mathbb A}={\mathbb K} {\mathbb L}\). In the paper under review the authors give a different approach to this result by investigating the fixed algebras \(\mathbb B\) of involutions on \(\mathbb A\) together with the automorphism groups of \(\mathbb A\) and \(\mathbb B\). Also the authors relate the results to the classification of self-reflective submanifolds in [\textit{B-Y. Chen} and \textit{T. Nagano}, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 308, No. 1, 273--297 (1988; Zbl 0656.53049); \textit{D. S. P. Leung}, J. Differ. Geom. 14, 167--177 (1979; Zbl 0458.53033)].