On complex split quaternion matrices (Q2443923)

Soon after Hamilton's discovery of the quaternion algebra, James Cockle introduced the so-called split quaternions: they have the same vector space but one defines \(i^2=-1\), \(j^2=k^2=1\), \(ijk=1\). Split quaternions also do not obey the commutative law, but there are divisors of zero, nilpotent elements and nontrivial idempotents. Furthermore, they can be represented by \(2\times2\) complex matrices. In contrast to quaternions, split quaternions have only recently received increasing attention, one reason being that they are used to express Lorentz rotations. In this paper the authors study properties of split quaternions, proving in particular that they can be represented by \(4\times4\) complex matrices. Next, they investigate the properties of matrices with complex split quaternion entries and define the so-called complex adjoint of such a matrix. This leads to a way of finding the inverse of a complex split quaternion matrix.