Biquaternion

In abstract algebra, the biquaternions are the numbers

h i = i h, h j = j h, and h k = k h since h is a
w + x i + y j + z k, where w, x, y, and z are complex
scalar.
numbers and the elements of {1, i, j, k} multiply as in
the quaternion group. As there are three types of complex Hamiltons primary exposition on biquaternions came in
number, so there are three types of biquaternion:
1853 in his Lectures on Quaternions, now available in the
Historical Mathematical Monographs of Cornell Univer (Ordinary) biquaternions when the coecients are sity. The two editions of Elements of Quaternions (1866
& 1899) reduced the biquaternion coverage in favor of
(ordinary) complex numbers
the real quaternions. He introduced the terms bivector,
Split-biquaternions when w, x, y, and z are split- biconjugate, bitensor, and biversor.
complex numbers
Considered with the operations of component-wise ad Dual quaternions when w, x, y, and z are dual num- dition, and multiplication according to the quaternion
group, this collection forms a 4-dimensional algebra over
bers.
the complex numbers. The algebra of biquaternions is
associative, but not commutative. A biquaternion is eiThis article is about the ordinary biquaternions named by ther a unit or a zero divisor.
William Rowan Hamilton in 1844 (see Proceedings of
Royal Irish Academy 1844 & 1850 page 388). Some
of the more prominent proponents of these biquaternions include Alexander Macfarlane, Arthur W. Conway, 2 Place in ring theory
Ludwik Silberstein, and Cornelius Lanczos. As developed below, the unit quasi-sphere of the biquaternions 2.1 Linear representation
provides a presentation of the Lorentz group, which is
the foundation of special relativity.
Note the matrix product
The algebra of biquaternions can be considered as a
tensor product C H (taken over the reals) where C is the
eld of complex numbers and H is the algebra of (real)
quaternions. In other words, the biquaternions are just
the complexication of the (real) quaternions. Viewed as
a complex algebra, the biquaternions are isomorphic to
the algebra of 22 complex matrices M 2 (C). They can
be classied as the Cliord algebra C2 (C) = C0 3 (C).
This is also isomorphic to the Pauli algebra C,(R), and
the even part of the spacetime algebra C0 ,(R).

(
h
0

Because h is the imaginary unit, each of these three arrays has a square equal to the negative of the identity matrix. When this matrix product is interpreted as i j = k,
then one obtains a subgroup of the matrix group that is
isomorphic to the quaternion group. Consequently,
(

)(
) (
)
0
0 1
0 h
=
h 1 0
h 0

u + hv
w + hx
w + hx u hv

Denition

Let {1, i, j, k} be the basis for the (real) quaternions, and represents biquaternion q = u 1 + v i + w j + x k. Given
any 2 2 complex matrix, there are complex values u, v,
let u, v, w, x be complex numbers, then
w, and x to put it in this form so that the matrix ring is
isomorphic[4] to the biquaternion ring.
q=u1+vi+wj+xk

2.2 Subalgebras

is a biquaternion.[1] To distinguish square roots of minus

one in the biquaternions, Hamilton[2][3] and Arthur W.
Conway used the convention of representing the square
root of minus one in the scalar eld C by h since there is
an i in the quaternion group. Then

Considering the biquaternion algebra over the scalar eld

of real numbers R, the set {1, h, i, hi, j, hj, k, hk } forms
a basis so the algebra has eight real dimensions. Note the
1

ASSOCIATED TERMINOLOGY

squares of the elements hi, hj, and hk are all plus one, for Proposition: If q is in M, then qq = t2 x2 y 2 z 2
example,
.
proof: qq = (t+xhi+yhj+zhk)(txhiyhjzhk)
(hi)2 = h2 i2 = (1)(1) = +1.
= t2 x2 (hi)2 y 2 (hj)2 z 2 (hk)2 = t2 x2 y 2 z 2 .
Then the subalgebra given by {x + y(hi) : x, y R} is
ring isomorphic to the plane of split-complex numbers, Denition: Let biquaternion g satisfy g g * = 1. Then the
which has an algebraic structure built upon the unit hy- Lorentz transformation associated with g is given by
perbola. The elements hj and hk also determine such
subalgebras. Furthermore, {x + yj : x, y C} is a
subalgebra isomorphic to the tessarines.
T (q) = g qg .
A third subalgebra called coquaternions is generated by
hj and hk. First note that (hj)(hk) = (1) i, and that the Proposition: If q is in M, then T(q) is also in M.
square of this element is 1. These elements generate the proof: (g qg ) = (g ) q g = (g ) q g = (g qg ) .
dihedral group of the square. The linear subspace with

basis {1, i, hj, hk} thus is closed under multiplication, Proposition: T (q)(T (q)) = qq
and forms the coquaternion algebra.
proof: Note rst that g g * = 1 means that the sum of
the
squares of its four complex components is one. Then
In the context of quantum mechanics and spinor algethe
sum
of the squares of the complex conjugates of these
bra, the biquaternions hi, hj, and hk (or their negatives),
components
is also one. Therefore, g (g ) = 1. Now
viewed in the M(2,C) representation, are called Pauli matrices.
(g qg )(g qg ) = g qg (g ) q g = g qq g = qq .

Algebraic properties

The biquaternions have two conjugations:

4 Associated terminology

As the biquaternions have been a xture of linear algebra

the biconjugate or biscalar minus bivector is q =
since the beginnings of mathematical physics, there is an
w xi yj zk , and
array of concepts that are illustrated or represented by bi the complex conjugation of biquaternion coecients quaternion algebra. The transformation group G = {g :
gg = 1} has two parts, G H and G M. The rst
q = w + x i + y j + z k
part is characterized by g = g ; then the Lorentz transcorresponding to g is given by T (q) = g 1 qg
where z = abh when z = a+bh, a, b R, h2 = formation

since g = g 1 . Such a transformation is a rotation by

1.
quaternion multiplication, and the collection of them is
Note that (pq) = q p , (pq) = p q , (q ) = O(3)
= G H. But this subgroup of G is not a normal
(q ) .
subgroup, so no quotient group can be formed.
Clearly, if qq = 0 then q is a zero divisor. Otherwise To view G M it is necessary to show some subalgebra
{qq }1 is dened over the complex numbers. Further, structure in the biquaternions. Let r represent an element
qq = q q is easily veried. This allows an inverse to be of the sphere of square roots of minus one in the real
dened as follows:
quaternion subalgebra H. Then (hr)2 = +1 and the plane
of biquaternions given by Dr = {z = x + yhr : x, y
1

R} is a commutative subalgebra isomorphic to the plane

q = q {qq } , if qq = 0.
of split-complex numbers. Just as the ordinary complex
plane has a unit circle, Dr has a unit hyperbola given by

3.1

Relation to Lorentz transformations

Consider now the linear subspace [5]

exp(ahr) = cosh(a) + hr sinh(a),

a R.

Just as the unit circle turns by multiplication through

of its elements, so the hyperbola turns because
M = {q : q = q } = {t+x(hi)+y(hj)+z(hk) : t, x, y, zone
R}.
exp(ahr) exp(bhr) = exp((a + b)hr). Hence these alM is not a subalgebra since it is not closed under products; gebraic operators on the hyperbola are called hyperbolic
for example (hi)(hj) = h2 ij = k
/ M. . Indeed, M versors. The unit circle in C and unit hyperbola in Dr
are examples of one-parameter groups. For every square
cannot form an algebra if it is not even a magma.

3
root r of minus one in H, there is a one-parameter group (a,b), where the product with a second biquaternion (c,
in the biquaternions given by G Dr .
d) is
The space of biquaternions has a natural topology through
the Euclidean metric on 8-space. With respect to this
topology, G is a topological group. Moreover, it has analytic structure making it a six-parameter Lie group. Consider the subspace of bivectors A = {q : q = q}
. Then the exponential map exp : A G takes the
real vectors to G H and the h-vectors to G M.
When equipped with the commutator, A forms the Lie
algebra of G. Thus this study of a six-dimensional space
serves to introduce the general concepts of Lie theory.
When viewed in the matrix representation, G is called
the special linear group SL(2,C) in M(2,C).
Many of the concepts of special relativity are illustrated
through the biquaternion structures laid out. The subspace M corresponds to Minkowski space, with the four
coordinates giving the time and space locations of events
in a resting frame of reference. Any hyperbolic versor
exp(ahr) corresponds to a velocity in direction r of speed
c tanh a where c is the velocity of light. The inertial
frame of reference of this velocity can be made the resting frame by applying the Lorentz boost T given by g
= exp(0.5ahr) since then g = exp(0.5ahr) = g
so that T (exp(ahr)) = 1. Naturally the hyperboloid
G M, which represents the range of velocities for subluminal motion, is of physical interest. There has been
considerable work associating this velocity space with
the hyperboloid model of hyperbolic geometry. In special
relativity, the hyperbolic angle parameter of a hyperbolic
versor is called rapidity. Thus we see the biquaternion
group G provides a group representation for the Lorentz
group.

(a, b)(c, d) = (ac d b, da + bc ).

If a = (u, v), b = (w, z), then the biconjugate (a, b) =
(a , b).
When (a,b)* is written as a 4-vector of ordinary complex
numbers,

(u, v, w, z) = (u, v, w, z).

The biquaternions form an example of a quaternion algebra, and it has norm

N (u, v, w, z) = u2 + v 2 + w2 + z 2 .
Two biquaternions p and q satisfy N (pq) = N (p)N (q)
indicating that N is a quadratic form admitting composition, so that the biquaternions form a composition algebra.

6 See also
Biquaternion algebra
Conic octonions (isomorphism)

After the introduction of spinor theory, particularly in the

hands of Wolfgang Pauli and lie Cartan, the biquaternion representation of the Lorentz group was superseded.
The new methods were founded on basis vectors in the set

MacFarlanes use
Quotient ring
Hypercomplex number

{q : qq = 0} = {w+xi+yj+zk : w +x +y +z = 0}
2

which is called the complex light cone.

As a composition algebra

7 Notes
[1] Hamilton (1853) page 639
[2] Hamilton (1853) page 730

Although W.R. Hamilton introduced biquaternions in the

19th century, its delineation of its mathematical structure
as a special type of algebra over a eld was accomplished
in the 20th century: the biquaternions may be generated
out of a the bicomplex numbers in the same way that
Adrian Albert generated the real quaternions out of complex numbers in the so-called CayleyDickson construction. In this construction, a bicomplex number (w,z) has
conjugate (w,z)* = (w, z).
The biquaternion is then a pair of bicomplex numbers

[3] Hamilton (1899) Elements of Quaternions, 2nd edition,

page 289
[4] Leonard Dickson (1914) Linear Algebras, 13 Equivalence of the complex quaternion and matric algebras,
page 13
[5] Lanczos (1949) Equation 94.16 page 305. The following
algebra compares to Lanczos, except he uses ~ to signify
quaternion conjugation and * for complex conjugation

References
Proceedings of the Royal Irish academy November
1844 (NA) and 1850 page 388 from google books
Arthur Buchheim (1885) A Memoir on biquaternions, American Journal of Mathematics 7(4):293
to 326 from Jstor early content.
Conway, Arthur W. (1911), On the application of
quaternions to some recent developments in electrical theory, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy,
29A: 19.
William Rowan Hamilton (1853) Lectures on
Quaternions, Article 669. This historical mathematical text is available on-line courtesy of Cornell University.
Hamilton (1866) Elements of Quaternions
University of Dublin Press. Edited by William
Edwin Hamilton, son of the deceased author.
Hamilton (1899) Elements of Quaternions volume
I, (1901) volume II. Edited by Charles Jasper Joly;
published by Longmans, Green & Co..
Kravchenko, Vladislav (2003), Applied Quaternionic Analysis, Heldermann Verlag ISBN 3-88538228-8.
Lanczos, Cornelius (1949), The Variational Principles of Mechanics, University of Toronto Press, pp.
304312.
Silberstein, Ludwik (1912), Quaternionic form of
relativity, Philosophical Magazine, Series 6, 23:
790809, doi:10.1080/14786440508637276.
Silberstein, Ludwik (1914), The Theory of Relativity.
Synge, J. L. (1972), Quaternions, Lorentz transformations, and the Conway-Dirac-Eddington matrices, Communications of the Dublin Institute for
Advanced Studies, Series A, 21.
Girard, P. R. (1984), The quaternion group
and modern physics, European Journal of
Physics, 5: 2532, Bibcode:1984EJPh....5...25G,
doi:10.1088/0143-0807/5/1/007.
Kilmister, C. W. (1994), Eddingtons search for a
fundamental theory, Cambridge University Press,
pp. 121, 122, 179, 180, ISBN 0-521-37165-1.
Sangwine, Stephen J.; Ell, Todd A.; Le Bihan, Nicolas (2010), Fundamental representations and algebraic properties of biquaternions
or complexied quaternions, Advances in Applied Cliord Algebras: 130, arXiv:1001.0240 ,
doi:10.1007/s00006-010-0263-3.

REFERENCES

Sangwine, Stephen J.; Alfsmann, Daniel (2010),

Determination of the biquaternion divisors
of zero, including idempotents and nilpotents, Advances in Applied Cliord Algebras, 20 (2):
401410, arXiv:0812.1102 ,
Bibcode:2008arXiv0812.1102S,
doi:10.1007/s00006-010-0202-3.
Tanili, M. (2006), Gauge transformation and electromagnetism with biquaternions, Europhysics Letters, 74 (4): 569, Bibcode:2006EL.....74..569T,
doi:10.1209/epl/i2005-10571-6.

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