K-monoid

Clifford algebra

Let be a quadratic space over . The Clifford algebra is the freëst K-monoid generated by subject to the condition to geo

as formalized by the universal property. Away from 2, this is equivalent to the freëst unital associative algebra such that the anticommutator extends the polar form

This motivates yet another perspective: is the freëst unital associatve algebra whose associated Jordan algebra has a product extending , i.e. has a product extending .

In a sense the Clifford algebra generalizes, or rather quantizes the Exterior algebra. It is sometimes called the orthogonal Clifford algebra, as opposed to the related Weyl algebra which is sometimes called the symplectic Clifford algebra.

Universal property

Let be a quadratic space over . The associated Clifford algebra is a pair consisting of a K-monoid and a linear map with the identity such that given any unital associative algebra , a linear map satisfying factorizes uniquely through

such that is a unital algebra homomorphism. This admits a unique extension to a functor such that becomes a natural transformation.

Construction

The Clifford algebra may be constructed as a quotient algebra of the tensor algebra

where the divisor is the algebra ideal generated by tensors of the form .

Proof of the universal property

proof

Relation to the exterior algebra

The exterior algebra is the associated graded algebra of the Clifford algebra, whence there is a natural linear isomorphism between them. With this identification, we have

We carry over all the terminology, referring to -vectors, &c.

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