Vahlen groups defined over commutative rings (Q343617)

Let \(N\) be a free module over a commutative ring \(R\) and \(q\) be a (possibly degenerate) quadratic form over \(R\). The Clifford algebra \(\mathrm{Cl}(N,q)\) is defined as the quotient of the tensor algebra \(T(N)\) by the ideal \(I\) where \(I\;\)is generated by the relations \(n^{2}=q(n)\). The author defines the general Vahlen group \(\mathrm{GV}(N,q)\) as a specific group of \(2\times2\) matrices over \(\mathrm{Cl}(N,q)\) and derives basic properties of this group. This generalizes a definition of \textit{J. Elstrodt} et al. [Math. Z. 196, 369--390 (1987; Zbl 0611.20027)] of Vahlen groups over fields of odd characteristic. Definitions of the special Vahlen group \(\mathrm{SV}(N,q)\) and the corresponding paravector Vahlen groups \(\mathrm{GPV}(N,q)\) and \(\mathrm{SPV}(N,q)\) follow in a natural way.