From Cayley-Dickson algebras to combinatorial Grassmannians

DOI10.3390/MATH3041192MaRDI QIDQ901470zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Metod Saniga, Frédéric Holweck, Petr Pracna

Publication date 12 January 2016

Published in Mathematics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Copyright license Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/1405.6888

zbMATH Keywords

Cayley-Dickson algebrasfinite geometriesVeldkamp spaces

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Configuration theorems in linear incidence geometry (51A20) Combinatorial structures in finite projective spaces (51E20) Other finite incidence structures (geometric aspects) (51E30)

Abstract: Given a $2^N$-dimensional Cayley-Dickson algebra, where $3leqNleq6$, we first observe that the multiplication table of its imaginary units $e_a$, $1leqaleq{2}^N-1$, is encoded in the properties of the projective space PG$(N-1,2)$ if one regards these imaginary units as points and distinguished triads of them $e_a,e_b,e_c$, $1leqa<b<cleq{2}^N-1$ and $e_a{e}_b=pm{e}_c$, as lines. This projective space is seen to feature two distinct kinds of lines according as $a+b=c$ or $a+beqc$. Consequently, it also exhibits (at least two) different types of points in dependence on how many lines of either kind pass through each of them. In order to account for such partition of the PG$(N-1,2)$, the concept of Veldkamp space of a finite point-line incidence structure is employed. The corresponding point-line incidence structure is found to be a binomial $left({N+1choose2}_{N-1},{N+1choose3}_{3}ight)$-configuration ${calC}_N$; in particular, ${calC}_3$ (octonions) is isomorphic to the Pasch $(6_2,4_3)$-configuration, ${calC}_4$ (sedenions) is the famous Desargues $(10_3)$-configuration, ${calC}_5$ (32-nions) coincides with the Cayley-Salmon $(15_4,20_3)$-configuration found in the well-known Pascal mystic hexagram and ${calC}_6$ (64-nions) is identical with a particular $(21_5,35_3)$-configuration that can be viewed as four triangles in perspective from a line where the points of perspectivity of six pairs of them form a Pasch configuration. We also draw attention to a remarkable nesting pattern formed by these configurations, where ${calC}_{N-1}$ occurs as a geometric hyperplane of ${calC}_N$. Finally, a brief examination of the structure of generic ${calC}_N$ leads to a conjecture that ${calC}_N$ is isomorphic to a combinatorial Grassmannian of type $G_2(N+1)$.

Review text

Summary: Given a \(2^N\)-dimensional Cayley-Dickson algebra, where \(3\leq N\leq 6\), we first observe that the multiplication table of its imaginary units \(e_a\), \(1\leq a\leq 2^N-1\), is encoded in the properties of the projective space \(\mathrm{PG}(N-1,2)\) if these imaginary units are regarded as points and distinguished triads of them \(\{e_a,e_b,e_c\}\), \(1\leq a<b<c\leq 2^N-1\) and \(e_ae_b=\pm e_c\), as lines. This projective space is seen to feature two distinct kinds of lines according as \(a+b=c\) or \(a+b\neq c\). Consequently, it also exhibits (at least two) different types of points in dependence on how many lines of either kind pass through each of them. In order to account for such partition of the \(\mathrm{PG}(N-1,2)\), the concept of Veldkamp space of a finite point-line incidence structure is employed. The corresponding point-line incidence structure is found to be a specific binomial configuration \(\mathcal C_N\); in particular, \(\mathcal C_3\) (octonions) is isomorphic to the Pasch \((6_2,4_3)\)-configuration, \(\mathcal C_4\) (sedenions) is the famous Desargues \((10_3)\)-configuration, \(\mathcal C_5\) (32-nions) coincides with the Cayley-Salmon \((15_4,20_3)\)-configuration found in the well-known Pascal mystic hexagram and \(\mathcal C_6\) (64-nions) is identical with a particular \((21_5,35_3)\)-configuration that can be viewed as four triangles in perspective from a line where the points of perspectivity of six pairs of them form a Pasch configuration. Finally, a brief examination of the structure of generic \(\mathcal C_N\) leads to a conjecture that \(\mathcal C_N\) is isomorphic to a combinatorial Grassmannian of type \(G_2(N+1)\).

Recommendations

• The Cayley Grassmannian
• Combinatorial aspects of the \(K\)-theory of Grassmannians
• On the complex Cayley Grassmannian
• Grassmann semialgebras and the Cayley-Hamilton theorem
• Combinatorics of the \(K\)-theory of affine grassmannians
• Grassmann and Stiefel Varieties over Composition Algebras
• Some graded identities of the Cayley-Dickson algebra
• Cayley-dickson algebras andRAloops
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• GRASSMANNIANS AND CLUSTER ALGEBRAS

Cited in

(5)

• The Cayley Grassmannian
• The complement of binary Klein quadric as a combinatorial Grassmannian
• GENERALIZED QUADRANGLES AND CUBIC FORMS
• Veldkamp spaces: from (Dynkin) diagrams to (Pauli) groups
• Cayley-dickson algebras andRAloops

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