Clifford Algebras And The Classical Groups

The Clifford algebras of real quadratic forms and their complexifications are studied here in detail, and those parts which are immediately relevant to theoretical physics are seen in the proper broad context. Central to the work is the classification of the conjugation and reversion anti-involutions that arise naturally in the theory. It is of interest that all the classical groups play essential roles in this classification. Other features include detailed sections on conformal groups, the eight-dimensional non-associative Cayley algebra, its automorphism group, the exceptional Lie group G(subscript 2), and the triality automorphism of Spin 8. The book is designed to be suitable for the last year of an undergraduate course or the first year of a postgraduate course.

This book reflects the growing interest in the theory of Clifford algebras and their applications. The author has reworked his previous book on this subject, Topological Geometry, and has expanded and added material. As in the previous version, the author includes an exhaustive treatment of all the generalizations of the classical groups, as well as an excellent exposition of the classification of the conjugation anti-involution of the Clifford algebras and their complexifications. Toward the end of the book, the author introduces ideas from the theory of Lie groups and Lie algebras. This treatment of Clifford algebras will be welcomed by graduate students and researchers in algebra.