Gradings on symmetric composition algebras (Q2655029)

The group gradings on the symmetric composition algebras over arbitrary fields are classified. Roughly speaking the classification theorems claims that any such symmetric composition algebra \(S\) is: {1)} The para-Hurwitz algebra associated to a Hurwitz algebra \(H\). In this case the gradings of \(S\) are the gradings of the Hurwitz algebra \(H\) (this seems to be related to the fact that the affine group scheme of automorphisms of \(H\) agrees with that of \(S\) which preserves the unit \(1_H\)). This reduces the problem to the description of the gradings on Hurwitz algebras, a program which was accomplished by the author in a paper in [J. Algebra 207, No. 1, 342--354 (1998; Zbl 0915.17022)]. The description of grading on octonions is recalled in this paper. {2)} The dimension of \(S\) is \(2\), the (universal) grading group is \({\mathbb Z}_3\) and there is an isotropic \(x\in S\) such that \(n(x,x\ast x)\neq 0\) and \(S_0=0\), \(S_1\) is spanned by \(x\) and \(S_2\) is spanned by \(x\ast x\). {3)} \(S\) is an Okubo algebra. Here the author gives a detailed and full description of all the gradings. As pointed out by the author, if the ground field is algebraically closed of characteristic \(\neq 3\), then all the gradings of the pseudo-octonions are coarsenings of a \({\mathbb Z}^2\) or a \({\mathbb Z}_3^2\)-gradings. From these results some interesting gradings on exceptional simple Lie algebras may be given. The author recall firstly the construction of exceptional Lie algebras (other than \(G_2\)) from symmetric composition algebras. But also inspired in the usual construction of Albert algebras as \(H_3(C)\) for a Cayley algebra \(C\), a more general construction may be given considering a symmetric composition algebra \((S,\ast,n)\) and defining a suitable multiplication on the vector space \({\mathbb A}(S):=k^3\oplus(S\oplus S\oplus S)\). Endowing \({\mathbb A}(S)\) with this multiplication we get central simple Jordan algebras. Then the gradings on \(S\) can be used to induce gradings on simple Lie algebras and also in Albert's algebra \({\mathbb A}\). The paper finishes with the description of interesting gradings on different Lie algebra including \(E_8\). The path showed by the author, provides qualitative descriptions of gradings which in other papers (for instance on \(F_4\) or \({\mathbb A}\)) have been described in a more quantitative manner.