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Thanks to Hans Lundmark, I just found the table of Clifford algebras $C_k=C_{\Bbb R}(0,k)$ and $C'_k=C_{\Bbb R}(k,0)$, $0\leq k\leq 7$. But, I couldn't understand some of the slots in the table.

$\begin{array}{|c|c|c|} \hline\\ k&C_k&C'_k\\\hline 0&\Bbb R&\Bbb R\\\hline 1&\Bbb C&\Bbb R\oplus\Bbb R\\\hline 2&\Bbb H&\color{red}{\Bbb R(2)}\\\hline 3&\Bbb H\oplus\Bbb H&\\\hline 4&\Bbb H(2)&\\\hline 5&&\\\hline 6&&\\\hline 7&&\\\hline \end{array}$

My bad. I forgot them again although I looked at Wikipedia. Can somebody please help me to fill this table giving also some ideas to remember them?

Thank you for reading.

Bob Dobbs
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    I'm not sure I understand your question... The complete classification of Clifford algebras can be found in many places, for example here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classification_of_Clifford_algebras#Classification – Hans Lundmark Jan 06 '24 at 13:14
  • @HansLundmark Thanks for the link. The purpose of my question is to get some ideas for filling the table. – Bob Dobbs Jan 06 '24 at 13:25
  • I don't think $C_2' = \mathbb{H}$ is right. It should be $\mathbb{R}(2)$, shouldn't it? – Hans Lundmark Jan 06 '24 at 14:41
  • @HansLundmark Thanks for showing the mistake. – Bob Dobbs Jan 06 '24 at 15:42

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Reminder: this uses the sign convention that vectors square to the opposite of the squared norms. Many sources use the opposite sign convention too. Here, $C\ell(p,q)$ is generated by $p$ sqrts of $-1$ and $q$ sqrts of $+1$, all anticommuting. Note $C\ell(k,0)=C_k$ and $C\ell(0,k)=C_k'$ in OP's notation.

You remember the classification of Clifford algebras with the Clifford clock:

clifford clock

The signature $p-q$ mod $8$ starts at $0$ at the top. It is easy enough to remember the first three, since $\mathbb{R},\mathbb{C},\mathbb{H}$ are respectively generated by $0,1,2$ roots of $-1$. From there on, the Clifford algebra $C\ell(p,q)$ is isomorphic to $\mathbb{K}(2^k)$, where the notation $\mathbb{K}(m)$ means the $m\times m$ matrix algebra over $\mathbb{K}$, and here you look up $\mathbb{K}\in\{\mathbb{R},\mathbb{R}^2,\mathbb{C},\mathbb{H},\mathbb{H}^2\}$ from the Clifford clock. You can solve for $k$ in $C\ell(p,q)\cong\mathbb{K}(2^k)$ by equating dimensions: the left side has dimension $2^n$ (where $n=p+q$) and the right side has real dimension $(\dim_{\mathbb{R}}\mathbb{K})\cdot 2^{2k}$.

Notice the symmetry across the diagonal between $-1,3$ mod $8$. And the antisymmetry across the other diagonal. So once you know the first three, and the antisymmetry, you just need to remember $\mathbb{H}^2$. You should also have the corner $C\ell(p,q)$ for $p+q\le 2$ of the table memorized if you understand split complex numbers and split quaternions.

The symmetry is offset by $1$ from the "nicer" horizontal symmetry because the even Clifford subalgebra is $C\ell_0(p,q)\cong C\ell(p-1,q)$. This is perhaps even more illuminated in the super algebra setting.

coiso
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