Three-Dimensional Geometry in Exceptional Algebra

Abstract

We review some topics in "exceptional mathematics'' from the perspective of 3-dimensional geometry: the octonions $\mathbb{O}$, the split octonions $\mathbb{O}'$, the bioctonions $\mathbb{O}_\mathbb{C} \cong \mathbb{C} \otimes_\mathbb{R} \mathbb{O}$, the complex Albert algebra $\mathfrak{h}_3(\mathbb{O}_\mathbb{C})$, and the complex form of the exceptional Lie algebra $\mathfrak{e}_6$. We show how to functorially build an algebra isomorphic to $\mathbb{O}$ from any 3d complex vector space equipped with an inner product and complex volume form. Similarly, we build one isomorphic to $\mathbb{O}'$ starting from a 3d real vector space equipped with a volume form, and one isomorphic to $\mathbb{O}_\mathbb{C}$ starting from a 3d complex vector space equipped with a complex volume form. We give applications to 3-dimensional real and complex manifolds. Finally, we describe how to build an Jordan algebra isomorphic to $\mathfrak{h}_3(\mathbb{O}_\mathbb{C})$ starting from three 3d complex vector spaces equipped with complex volume forms. This last construction gives a nice explicit description of the complex Lie algebra $\mathfrak{e}_6$ and its subalgebra $\mathfrak{sl}(3,\mathbb{C}) \oplus \mathfrak{sl}(3,\mathbb{C}) \oplus \mathfrak{sl}(3,\mathbb{C})$.