Clifford algebras and Euclid's parametrization of Pythagorean triples

DOI10.1007/S00006-006-0019-2zbMATH Open1116.15024arXiv1201.4418OpenAlexW3100676144WikidataQ114232405 ScholiaQ114232405MaRDI QIDQ871657FDOQ871657

Authors: Jerzy Kocik 

Publication date: 20 March 2007

Published in: Advances in Applied Clifford Algebras (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: We show that the space of Euclid's parameters for Pythagorean triples is endowed with a natural symplectic structure and that it emerges as a spinor space of the Clifford algebra $mathbb{R}_{2,1}$, whose minimal version may be conceptualized as a 4-dimensional real algebra of "kwaternions." We observe that this makes Euclid's parameterization the earliest appearance of the concept of spinors. We present an analogue of the "magic correspondence" for the spinor representation of Minkowski space and show how the Hall matrices fit into the scheme. The latter obtain an interesting and perhaps unexpected geometric meaning as certain symmetries of an Apollonian gasket. An extension to more variables is proposed and explicit formulae for generating all Pythagorean quadruples, hexads, and decuples are provided.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1201.4418

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zbMATH Keywords

Minkowski spacePythagorean triplesApollonian gasketLorentz groupunimodular groupClifford algebra, spinorsEuclid's parametrizationHall matricespseudo-quaternionsPythagorean quadruples

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Structure and representation of the Lorentz group (22E43) Clifford algebras, spinors (15A66) Unimodular groups, congruence subgroups (group-theoretic aspects) (20H05)

Cited In (8)

• Lens sequences
• Octonions as Clifford-like algebras
• On a Diophantine equation that generates all integral Apollonian gaskets
• Multifractal vector fields and stochastic Clifford algebra
• Pythagorean vectors and Clifford numbers
• Surfaces containing two circles through each point
• Groups and monoid in the set of Pythagorean triples
• Krawtchouk matrices, Feynman path integral and the split quaternions

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