Exceptional Structures in Mathematics and Physics and the Role of the Octonions
Abstract
Description
There is a growing interest in the logical possibility that exceptional mathematical structures (exceptional Lie and superLie algebras, the exceptional Jordan algebra, etc.) could be linked to an ultimate "exceptional" formulation for a Theory Of Everything (TOE). The maximal division algebra of the octonions can be held as the mathematical responsible for the existence of the exceptional structures mentioned above. In this context it is quite motivating to systematically investigate the properties of octonionic spinors and the octonionic realizations of supersymmetry. In particular the $M$-algebra can be consistently defined for two structures only, a real structure, leading to the standard $M$-algebra, and an octonionic structure. The octonionic version of the $M$-algebra admits striking properties induced by octonionic $p$-forms identities.
10 pages. Talk given at the "International Workshop Supersymmetry and Quantum Symmetries SQS'03", July 2003, Dubna. To appear in the proceedings
10 pages. Talk given at the "International Workshop Supersymmetry and Quantum Symmetries SQS'03", July 2003, Dubna. To appear in the proceedings