Normal forms for the \(\mathcal G_2\)-action on the real symmetric \(7\times 7\)-matrices by conjugation (Q2370238)

If \(\wedge \) is an anticommutative product on a Euclidean space \((V, (\;|\;))\) such that \((u\wedge v |w) = (u | v\wedge w)\) and \(\| u\wedge w\| ^2 = \| u \| ^2 \, \| v\| ^2 -(u |v)^2\) for any \(u, v, w\in V\), then \(\wedge \) is called a \textit{vector product} in \(V\). Vector products can only be defined on Euclidean spaces of dimension \(0, 1, 3\) and \(7\) and are unique up to isomorphism in each dimension. Furthermore, vector products are closely related to the finite-dimensional real alternative division algebras \({\mathbb R}\), \({\mathbb C}\), \({\mathbb H}\) and \({\mathbb O}\). So if \(V\) is the vector subspace orthogonal to the unit element \(e\) in one of these algebras, then the anticommutative product \(\wedge \) given by \(x\wedge y = \frac 12(xy-yx)\) is a vector product in \(V.\) If the algebra considered is \({\mathbb O}\) then \(\dim V = 7\) and the vector product obtained plays a fundamental role in the determination of the real quadratic flexible division algebras of dimension \(8\). Indeed, up to isomorphisms one such algebra is always completely described by the algebra \((V, \wedge )\) jointly with a positive definite symmetric automorphisms of the euclidean vector space \(V\) throughout a process which is called \textit{vectorial isotopy} [see \textit{J. A. Cuenca, R. de los Santos, A. Kaidi} and \textit{A. Rochdi}, Linear Algebra Appl. 290, 1--22 (1999; Zbl 1011.17002)]. Furthermore, in this reference is also given a criterion characterizing when two of these algebras are isomorphic, which can be formulated saying that the isomorphism classes of real quadratic flexible division algebras of dimension \(8\) are in one-to-one correspondence with the orbits of the set \(\text{Pos}\, V\) of the positive definite symmetric automorphisms of the Euclidean space \(V\) under the action \({\mathcal G}_2 \times \text{Pos}\, V \longrightarrow \text{Pos}\, V\), \((g,\delta )\mapsto g^{-1}\delta g.\) Here \({\mathcal G}_2\) denotes the group of the isometric automorphisms of the the algebra \((V, \wedge ).\) Let us denote by \(\text{Sym}\, V\) the set of the symmetric linear endomorphisms of the above \(7\)-dimensional Euclidean space \(V\). In the paper under review the author considers the action of \({\mathcal G}_2\) on the set \(\text{Sym}\, V\) given by \({\mathcal G}_2 \times \text{Sym}\, V \longrightarrow \text{Sym}\, V\), \((g,\delta )\mapsto g^{-1}\delta g\) and determines a canonical representative (normal form) in each of their orbits. In particular, this allows to give exactly one algebra in every isomorphism class of the real quadratic flexible division algebras of dimension \(8\). Jointly with the results in [\textit{G. M. Benkart, D. J. Britten} and \textit{J. M. Osborn}, Can. J. Math. 34, 550--588 (1982; Zbl 0469.17001)] and [\textit{E. Darpö}, Colloq. Math. 105, No. 1, 1--17 (2006; Zbl 1157.17001)] this concludes the complete and irredundant classification of all the finite-dimensional real flexible division algebras. The solution of the normal form problem treated in this paper is given by the author throughout a depth case-by-case analysis of the possible configurations of eigenvalues and eigenspaces that can appear. Reviewer's remark: A small mistake in one of the cases is corrected in the paper [\textit{J. A. Cuenca, E. Darpö} and \textit{E. Dieterich}, ``Classification of the finite dimensional absolute valued algebras having a non-zero central idempotent or a one-sided unity'', Bull. Sci. Math. 134, No. 3, 247--277 (2010; Zbl 1188.17002)].