Real matrix representations for the complex quaternions (Q2443924)

It is well known that a finite dimensional associative algebra \(A\) over an arbitrary field \(K\) is isomorphic to a subalgebra of the algebra \(M_n(K)\) with \(n=\dim_KA\). This implies the existence of a faithful representation of \(A\) in \(M_n(K)\), e.g. the real quaternion division algebra is isomorphic to a \(4\times4\) real matrix algebra. Starting from some results of \textit{Y. Tian} [Adv. Appl. Clifford Algebr. 10, No. 1, 61--90 (2000; Zbl 0974.15012)], the authors show that the complex quaternion algebra is isomorphic to an \(8\times8\) real matrix algebra and investigate the properties of the resulting left and right real matrix representations. In the final section some examples for the special case of the complex Fibonacci quaternions are given.