Quaternion algebras and quadratic forms

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imported>Pythagoras0님의 2013년 11월 29일 (금) 08:51 판
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introduction

  • let $F$ be a field
  • consider a quaternion algebra $(a,b)_F$ defined by $F[i,j]/(i^2=a,j^2=b,ij=-ji)$
  • it is an example of a central simple algebra (see Brauer group)
  • it is either a division algebra or isomorphic to the matrix algebra of 2×2 matrices over $F$: the latter case is termed split


Hilbert symbol

  • The Hilbert symbol can also be used to denote the central simple algebra over $F$ with basis $1,i,j,k$ and multiplication rules \(i^2=a\), \(j^2=b\), \(ij=-ji=k\). In this case the algebra represents an element of order 2 in the Brauer group of $F$, which is identified with -1 if it is a division algebra and +1 if it is isomorphic to the algebra of 2 by 2 matrices.


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