An application of the division algebras, Jordan algebras and split composition algebras

It has been established that the covering group of the Lorentz group in D = 3, 4, 6, 10 can be expressed in a unified way, based on the four composition division algebras R, C, Q and O. In this paper, the authors discuss, in this framework, the role of the complex numbers of quantum mechanics. A unified treatment of quantum-mechanical spinors is given. The authors provide an explicit demonstration that the vector and spinor transformations recently constructed from a subgroup of the reduced structure group of the Jordan algebras Mn3 are indeed the Lorentz transformations. The authors also show that if the division algebras in the construction of the covering groups of the Lorentz groups in D = 3, 4, 6, 10 are replaced by the split composition algebras, then the sequence of groups SO(2, 2), SO(3, 3) and SO(5, 5) result. The analysis is presumed to be self-contained as the relevant aspects of the division algebras and Jordan algebras are reviewed. Some applications to physical theory are indicated