Quaternionic vector space: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Module over the algebra of quaternions.}}

A '''left''' (or '''right''') '''quaternionic vector space''' is a left (or right) '''H'''-[[module (mathematics)|module]] where '''H''' denotes the [[ring (mathematics)|noncommutative ring]] of the [[quaternion]]s.

In [[noncommutative algebra]], a branch of [[mathematics]], a '''quaternionic vector space''' is a [[Module (mathematics)|module]] over the [[Quaternion|quaternions]]. Since the quaternion algebra is [[division ring]], these modules are referred to as "vector spaces". However, the quaternion algebra is [[Noncommutative ring|noncommutative]] so we must distinguish left and right vector spaces. In left vector spaces, linear compositions of vectors <math> v</math> and <math> w</math> have the form <math> av+bw</math> where <math> a</math>, <math> b\in H</math>. In right vector spaces, linear compositions of vectors <math> v</math> and <math> w</math> have the form <math> va+wb</math>.

Similar to [[Vector space|vector spaces over a field]], if a quaternionic vector space has finite dimension <math> n</math>, then it is isomorphic to the direct sum <math> H^n</math> of <math> n</math> copies of the quaternion algebra <math> H</math>. In this case we can use a standard basis which has the form

The space '''H'''^''n'' of ''n''-tuples of quaternions is both a left and right '''H'''-module using the componentwise left and right multiplication. Since '''H''' is a [[division algebra]], every [[finitely generated]] (left or right) '''H'''-module has a [[basis (linear algebra)|basis]], and hence is isomorphic to '''H'''^''n'' for some ''n''.

:<math>e_1=(1,0,\ldots,0)</math>

:<math>\ldots</math>

:<math>e_n=(0,\ldots,0,1)</math>

In a left quaternionic vector space <math> H^n</math> we use componentwise sum of vectors and product of vectors over scalars

==See also==

:<math> (p_1, \ldots, p_n)+(r_1, \ldots, r_n) = (p_1+ r_1, \ldots, p_n+ r_n)</math>

:<math> q (r_1, \ldots, r_n) = (q r_1, \ldots, q r_n)</math>

In a right quaternionic vector space <math> H^n</math> we also use componentwise sum of vectors and product of vectors over scalars

:<math> (p_1, \ldots, p_n)+(r_1, \ldots, r_n) = (p_1+ r_1, \ldots, p_n+ r_n)</math>

:<math> (r_1, \ldots, r_n)q = ( r_1q, \ldots, r_nq)</math>

==See also==

* [[Vector space]] <!-- Doesn't mention the quaternions, but should!-->

* [[General linear group]] <!-- Doesn't mention the quaternions, but should!-->

* [[Special linear group]] <!-- Doesn't mention the quaternions, but should!-->

* [[List of simple Lie groups#A2n.E2.88.921_II_921 II .28n_28n .E2.89.A5_2A5 2.29|SL(n,H)]] <!-- No definitions here!-->

* [[Symplectic group]] <!-- Hoorah, it mentions Sp(n) and Sp(p,q)-->

==References==

*{{cite book

| first = F. Reese

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| publisher = Academic Press

| ___location = San Diego

| idisbn = ISBN 0-12-329650-1

}}

{{maths-stub}}

[[Category:Quaternions]]

[[Category:Linear algebra]]

{{linear-algebra-stub}}