Clifford algebra
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Clifford algebras are a type of associative algebra in mathematics. They can be thought of as one of the possible generalizations of the complex numbers and quaternions. The theory of Clifford algebras is intimately connected with the theory of quadratic forms and orthogonal transformations. Clifford algebras have important applications in a variety of fields including geometry and theoretical physics. They are named for the English geometer William Clifford.
- Some familiarity with the basics of multilinear algebra will be useful in reading this article.
- 1 Introduction and basic properties
- 2 Universal property and construction
- 3 Basis and dimension
- 4 Examples: Real and complex Clifford algebras
- 5 Properties
- 6 Structure of Clifford algebras
- 7 The Clifford group Γ
- 8 Spin and Pin groups
- 9 Spinors
- 10 Applications
- 11 See also
- 12 Footnotes
- 13 References
- 14 External links
Introduction and basic properties
Specifically, a Clifford algebra is a unital associative algebra which contains and is generated by a vector space V equipped with a quadratic form Q. The Clifford algebra Cℓ(V,Q) is the "freest" algebra generated by V subject to the condition1- [v^2 = Q(v)\ \rm\ v\in V.]
- [uv + vu = \lang u, v\rang] for all [u,v \in V]
Clifford algebras are closely related to exterior algebras. In fact, if Q = 0 then the Clifford algebra Cℓ(V,Q) is just the exterior algebra Λ(V). For nonzero Q there exists a canonical linear isomorphism between Λ(V) and Cℓ(V,Q) whenever the ground field K does not have characteristic 2. That is they are naturally isomorphic as vector spaces but with different multiplications. Clifford multiplication is strictly richer than the exterior product since it makes use of the extra information provided by Q.
Quadratic forms and Clifford algebras in characteristic 2 form an exceptional case. In particular, if char K = 2 it is not true that a quadratic form is determined by its symmetric bilinear form, or that every quadratic form admits an orthogonal basis. Many of the statements in this article include the condition that the characteristic is not 2, and are false if this condition is removed.
Universal property and construction
Let V be a vector space over a field K, and let Q : V → K be a quadratic form on V. In most cases of interest the field K is either R or C (which have characteristic 0) or a finite field.
A Clifford algebra Cℓ(V,Q) is a unital associative algebra over K together with a linear map i : V → Cℓ(V,Q) defined by the following universal property: Given any associative algebra A over K and any linear map j : V → A such that
- j(v)2 = Q(v)1 for all v ∈ V
Working with a symmetric bilinear form <·,·> instead of Q (in characteristic not 2), the requirement on j is
- j(v)j(w) + j(w)j(v) = <v, w> for all v, w ∈ V''.
- [v\otimes v - Q(v)1] for all [v\in V]
- Cℓ(V,Q) = T(V)/IQ.
The universal characterization of the Clifford algebra shows that the construction of Cℓ(V,Q) is functorial in nature. Namely, Cℓ can be considered as a functor from the category of vector spaces with quadratic forms (whose morphisms are linear maps preserving the quadratic form) to the category of associative algebras. The universal property guarantees that linear maps between vector spaces (preserving the quadratic form) extend uniquely to algebra homomorphisms between the associated Clifford algebras.
Basis and dimension
If the dimension of V is n and is a basis of V, then the set
- [\e_\cdots e_ \mid 1\le i_1 < i_2 < \cdots < i_k \le n\mbox 0\le k\le n\}]
- [\dim C\ell(V,Q) = \sum_^n\beginn\\ k\end = 2^n.]
- [\langle e_i, e_j \rangle = 0 \qquad i\neq j. \,]
- [e_ie_j = -e_je_i \qquad i\neq j. \,]
If the characteristic is not 2 then an orthogonal basis for V exists, and one can easily extend the quadratic form on V to a quadratic form on all of Cℓ(V,Q) by requiring that distinct elements [e_e_\cdots e_] are orthogonal to one another whenever the 's are orthogonal. Additionally, one sets
- [Q(e_e_\cdots e_) = Q(e_)Q(e_)\cdots Q(e_)].
Examples: Real and complex Clifford algebras
The most important Clifford algebras are those over real and complex vector spaces equipped with nondegenerate quadratic forms.
Every nondegenerate quadratic form on a finite-dimensional real vector space is equivalent to the standard diagonal form:
- [Q(v) = v_1^2 + \cdots + v_p^2 - v_^2 - \cdots - v_^2]
A standard orthonormal basis for Rp,q consists of n = p + q mutually orthogonal vectors, p of which have norm +1 and q of which have norm −1. The algebra Cℓp,q(R) will therefore have p vectors which square to +1 and q vectors which square to −1.
Note that Cℓ0,0(R) is naturally isomorphic to R since there are no nonzero vectors. Cℓ0,1(R) is a two-dimensional algebra generated by a single vector e1 which squares to −1, and therefore is isomorphic to C, the field of complex numbers. The algebra Cℓ0,2(R) is a four-dimensional algebra spanned by . The latter three elements square to −1 and all anticommute, and so the algebra is isomorphic to the quaternions H. The next algebra in the sequence is Cℓ0,3(R) is an 8-dimensional algebra isomorphic to the direct sum H ⊕ H called Clifford biquaternions.
One can also study Clifford algebras on complex vector spaces. Every nondegenerate quadratic form on a complex vector space is equivalent to the standard diagonal form
- [Q(z) = z_1^2 + z_2^2 + \cdots + z_n^2]
- [C\ell_n(\mathbb) \cong C\ell_(\mathbb)\otimes\mathbb \cong C\ell(\mathbb^,Q\otimes\mathbb)].
- Cℓ0(C) = C
- Cℓ1(C) = C ⊕ C
- Cℓ2(C) = M2(C)
It turns out that every one of the algebras Cℓp,q(R) and Cℓn(C) is isomorphic to a matrix algebra over R, C, or H or to a direct sum of two such algebras. For a complete classification of these algebras see classification of Clifford algebras.
Properties
Relation to the exterior algebra
Given a vector space V one can construct the exterior algebra Λ(V), whose definition is independent of any quadratic form on V. It turns out that if F does not have characteristic 2 then there is a natural isomorphism between Λ(V) and Cℓ(V,Q) considered as vector spaces. This is an algebra isomorphism if and only if Q = 0. One can thus consider the Clifford algebra Cℓ(V,Q) as an enrichment of the exterior algebra on V with a multiplication that depends on Q (one can still define the exterior product independent of Q).
The easiest way to establish the isomorphism is to choose an orthogonal basis for V and extend it to an orthogonal basis for Cℓ(V,Q) as described above. The map Cℓ(V,Q) → Λ(V) is determined by
- [e_e_\cdots e_ \mapsto e_\wedge e_\wedge \cdots \wedge e_.]
If the characteristic of K is 0, one can also establish the isomorphism by antisymmetrizing. Define functions fk : V × … × V → Cℓ(V,Q) by
- [f_k(v_1, \cdots, v_k) = \frac\sum_(\sigma)\, v_\cdots v_]
Yet another way to see the relation is to construct a filtration on Cℓ(V,Q). Recall that the tensor algebra T(V) has a natural filtration: F0 ⊂ F1 ⊂ F2 ⊂ … where Fk contains sums of tensors with rank ≤ k. Projecting this down to the Clifford algebra gives a filtration on Cℓ(V,Q). The associated graded algebra
- [\bigoplus_k F^k/F^]
Grading
The linear map on V defined by [v \mapsto -v] preserves the quadratic form Q and so by the universal property of Clifford algebras extends to an algebra automorphism
- α : Cℓ(V,Q) → Cℓ(V,Q).
- [C\ell(V,Q) = C\ell^0(V,Q) \oplus C\ell^1(V,Q)]
- [C\ell^(V,Q)C\ell^(V,Q) = C\ell^(V,Q)]
Remark. In characteristic not 2 the algebra Cℓ(V,Q) inherits a Z-grading from the canonical isomorphism with the exterior algebra Λ(V). It is important to note, however, that this is a vector space grading only. That is, Clifford multiplication does not respect the Z-grading only the Z2-grading. Happily, the gradings are related in the natural way: Z2 = Z/2Z. The degree of a Clifford number usually refers to the degree in the Z-grading. Elements which are pure in the Z2-grading are simply said to be even or odd.
If the characteristic of F is not 2 then the even subalgebra Cℓ0(V,Q) of a Clifford algebra is itself a Clifford algebra. If V is the orthogonal direct sum of a vector a of norm Q(a) and a subspace U, then Cℓ0(V,Q) is isomorphic to Cℓ(U,−Q(a)Q), where −Q(a)Q is the form Q restricted to U and multiplied by −Q(a). In particular over the reals this implies that
- [C\ell_^0(\mathbb) \cong C\ell_(\mathbb)] for q > 0, and
- [C\ell_^0(\mathbb) \cong C\ell_(\mathbb)]for p > 0.
- R ⊂ C ⊂ H ⊂ H⊕H ⊂ …
Antiautomorphisms
In addition to the automorphism α, there are two antiautomorphisms which play an important role in the analysis of Clifford algebras. Recall that the tensor algebra T(V) comes with an antiautomorphism that reverses the order in all products:
- [v_1\otimes v_2\otimes \cdots \otimes v_k \mapsto v_k\otimes \cdots \otimes v_2\otimes v_1].
- [\bar x = \alpha(x^t) = \alpha(x)^t.]
Note that all of these operations are involutions. One can show that they act as ±1 on elements which are pure in the Z-grading. In fact, all three operations depend only on the degree modulo 4. That is, if x is pure with degree k then
- [\alpha(x) = \pm x \qquad x^t = \pm x \qquad \bar x = \pm x]
| k mod 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [\alpha(x)\,] | + | − | + | − | (−1)k |
| [x^t\,] | + | + | − | − | (−1)k(k−1)/2 |
| [\bar x] | + | − | − | + | (−1)k(k+1)/2 |
The Clifford scalar product
When the characteristic is not 2 the quadratic form Q on V can be extended to a quadratic form on all of Cℓ(V,Q) as explained earlier (which we also denoted by Q). A basis independent definition is
- [2Q(x) = \lang x^t x\rang]
- [Q(v_1v_2\cdots v_k) = Q(v_1)Q(v_2)\cdots Q(v_k)]
The associated symmetric bilinear form on Cℓ(V,Q) is given by
- [\lang x, y\rang = \lang x^t y\rang.]
It is not hard to verify that the transpose is the adjoint of left/right Clifford multiplication with respect to this inner product. That is,
- [\lang ax, y\rang = \lang x, a^t y\rang,] and
- [\lang xa, y\rang = \lang x, y a^t\rang.]
Structure of Clifford algebras
In this section we assume that the vector space V is finite dimensional and that the bilinear form of Q is non-singular. A central simple algebra over K is a matrix algebra over a (finite dimensional) division algebra with center K. For example, the central simple algebras over the reals are matrix algebras over either the reals or the quaternions.
- If V has even dimension then Cℓ(V,Q) is a central simple algebra over K.
- If V has even dimension then Cℓ0(V,Q) is a central simple algebra over a quadratic extension of K or a sum of two isomorphic central simple algebras over K.
- If V has odd dimension then Cℓ(V,Q) is a central simple algebra over a quadratic extension of K or a sum of two isomorphic central simple algebras over K.
- If V has odd dimension then Cℓ0(V,Q) is a central simple algebra over K.
- [ Cl_(\mathbb) = M_2(\mathbb)\otimes Cl_(\mathbb) ]
- [ Cl_(\mathbb) = M_2(\mathbb)\otimes Cl_(\mathbb) ]
- [ Cl_(\mathbb) = \mathbb\otimes Cl_(\mathbb) ]
The Clifford group Γ
In this section we assume that V is finite dimensional and the bilinear form of Q is non-singular.
The Clifford group Γ is defined to be the set of invertible elements x of the Clifford algebra such that
- xvα(x)−1 ∈ V
Many authors define the Clifford group slightly differently, by replacing the action xvα(x)−1 by xvx−1. This produces the same Clifford group, but the action of the Clifford group on V is changed slightly: the action of the odd elements Γ1 of the Clifford group is multiplied by an extra factor of −1. This action used here has several minor advantages: it is consistent with the usual superalgebra sign conventions, elements of V correspond to reflections, and in odd dimensions the map from the Clifford group to the orthogonal group is onto, and the kernel is no larger than K*. Using the action α(x)vx−1 instead of xvα(x)−1 makes no difference: it produces the same Clifford group with the same action on V.
The Clifford group Γ is the disjoint union of two subsets Γ0 and Γ1, where Γi is the subset of elements of degree i. The subset Γ0 is a subgroup of index 2 in Γ.
If V is finite dimensional with nondegenerate bilinear form then the Clifford group maps onto the orthogonal group of V and the kernel consists of the nonzero elements of the field K. This leads to exact sequences
- [ 1 \rightarrow K^* \rightarrow \Gamma \rightarrow O_V(K) \rightarrow 1,\,]
- [ 1 \rightarrow K^* \rightarrow \Gamma^0 \rightarrow SO_V(K) \rightarrow 1.\,]
- [Q(x) = x^tx\,]
The nonzero elements of K have spinor norm in the group K*2 of squares of nonzero elements of the field K. So when V is finite dimensional and non-singular we get an induced map from the orthogonal group of V to the group K*/K*2, also called the spinor norm. The spinor norm of the reflection of a vector r has image Q(r) in K*/K*2, and this property uniquely defines it on the orthogonal group. This gives exact sequences:
- [ 1 \rightarrow \ \rightarrow Pin_V(K) \rightarrow O_V(K) \rightarrow K^*/K^,\,]
- [ 1 \rightarrow \ \rightarrow Spin_V(K) \rightarrow SO_V(K) \rightarrow K^*/K^.\,]
Spin and Pin groups
In this section we assume that V is finite dimensional and its bilinear form is non-singular. (If K has characteristic 2 this implies that the dimension of V is even.)
The Pin group PinV(K) is the subgroup of the Clifford group Γ of elements of spinor norm 1, and similarly the Spin group SpinV(K) is the subgroup of elements of Dickson invariant 0 in PinV(K). When the characteristic is not 2, these are the elements of determinant 1. The Spin group usually has index 2 in the Pin group.
Recall from the previous section that there is a homomorphism from the Clifford group onto the orthogonal group. We define the special orthogonal group to be the image of Γ0. If K does not have characteristic 2 this is just the group of elements of the orthogonal group of determinant 1. If K does have characteristic 2, then all elements of the orthogonal group have determinant 1, and the special orthogonal group is the set of elements of Dickson invariant 0.
There is a homomorphism from the Pin group to the orthogonal group. The image consists of the elements of spinor norm 1 ∈ K*/K*2. The kernel consists of the elements +1 and −1, and has order 2 unless K has characteristic 2. Similarly there is a homomorphism from the Spin group to the special orthogonal group of V.
In the common case when V is a positive or negative definite space over the reals, the spin group maps onto the special orthogonal group, and is simply connected when V has dimension at least 3. Warning: This is not true in general: if V is Rp,q for p and q both at least 2 then the spin group is not simply connected and does not map onto the special orthogonal group. In this case the algebraic group Spinp,q is simply connected as an algebraic group, even though its group of real valued points Spinp,q(R) is not simply connected. This is a rather subtle point, which completely confused the authors of at least one standard book about spin groups.
See spinor group, spinor.
Spinors
Suppose that p+q=2n is even. Then the Clifford algebra Cℓp,q(C) is a matrix algebra, and so has a complex representation of dimension 2n. By restricting to the group Pinp,q(R) we get a complex representation of the Pin group of the same dimension, called the spinor representation. If we restrict this to the spin group Spinp,q(R) then it splits as the sum of two half spin representations (or Weyl representations) of dimension 2n-1.
If p+q=2n+1 is odd then the Clifford algebra Cℓp,q(C) is a sum of two matrix algebras, each of which has a representation of dimension 2n, and these are also both representations of the Pin group Pinp,q(R). On restriction to the spin group Spinp,q(R) these become isomorphic, so the spin group has a complex spinor representation of dimension 2n.
More generally, spinor groups and pin groups over any field have similar representations whose exact structure depends on the structure of the corresponding Clifford algebras: whenever a Clifford algebra has a factor that is a matrix algebra over some division algebra, we get a corresponding representation of the pin and spin groups over that division algebra. For examples over the reals see the article on spinors.
Applications
Differential geometry
One of the principal applications of the exterior algebra is in differential geometry where it is used to define the bundle of differential forms on a smooth manifold. In the case of a (pseudo-)Riemannian manifold, the tangent spaces come equipped with a natural quadratic form induced by the metric. Thus, one can define a Clifford bundle in analogy with the exterior bundle. This has a number of important applications in Riemannian geometry.
Physics
Clifford algebras have numerous important applications in physics. Physicists usually consider a Clifford algebra to be an algebra spanned by matrices γ1,…,γn called Dirac matrices which have the property that
- [\gamma_i\gamma_j + \gamma_j\gamma_i = 2\eta_\,]
The Dirac matrices were first written down by Paul Dirac when he was trying to write a relativistic first-order wave equation for the electron, and give an explicit isomorphism from the Clifford algebra to the algebra of complex matrices. The result was used to define the Dirac equation. The entire Clifford algebra shows up in quantum field theory in the form of Dirac field bilinears.
See also
- algebra of physical space, APS
- classification of Clifford algebras
- representations of Clifford algebras
- gamma matrices
- exterior algebra
- geometric algebra
- spinor group
- spinor
- paravector
Footnotes
- Mathematicians who work with real Clifford algebras and prefer positive definite quadratic forms (especially those working in index theory) sometimes use a different choice of sign in the fundamental Clifford identity. That is, they take v2 = −Q(v). One must replace Q with −Q in going from one convention to the other.
- The opposite is true when uses the alternate (−) sign convention for Clifford algebras: it is the conjugate which is more important. In general, the meanings of conjugation and transpose are interchanged when passing from one sign convention to the other. For example, in the convention used here the inverse of a vector is given by [v^ = v^t/Q(v)] while in the (−) convention it is given by [v^ = \bar/Q(v)].
References
- Carnahan, S. Borcherds Seminar Notes, Uncut. Week 5, "Spinors and Clifford Algebras".
- Lawson and Michelsohn, Spin Geometry, Princeton University Press. 1989. ISBN 0-691-08542-0. An advanced textbook on Clifford algebras and their applications to differential geometry.
- Lounesto, P., Clifford Algebras and Spinors, Cambridge University Press. 2001. ISBN 0-521-00551-5.
- Porteous, I., Clifford Algebras and the Classical Groups, Cambridge University Press. 1995. ISBN 0-521-55177-3.
External links
- [Planetmath entry on Clifford algebras]
- [A history of Clifford algebras] (unverified)
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