Note on Reversion, Rotation and Exponentiation in Dimensions Five and Six

Abstract: The explicit matrix realizations of the reversion anti-automorphism and the spin group depend on the set of matrices chosen to represent a basis of 1 -vectors for a given Clifford algebra. On the other hand, there are iterative procedures to obtain bases of 1-vectors for higher dimensional Clifford algebras, starting from those for lower dimensional ones. For a basis of 1-vectors for Cl (0, 5), obtained by applying such procedures to the Pauli basis of 1-vectors for Cl(3,0), we find that the matrix form of reversion involves neither of the two standard representations of the symplectic bilinear form. However, by making use of the relation between 4 X 4 real matrices and the tensor product of the quaternions with themselves, the matrix form of reversion for this basis of 1-vectors is identified. The corresponding version of the Lie algebra of the spin group, has useful matrix properties which are explored. Next, the form of reversion for a basis of 1-vectors for Cl(0,6) obtained iteratively from Cl(0,0) is obtained. This is then applied to the task of computing exponentials of 5X 5 and 6X 6 real skew-symmetric matrices in closed form, by reducing this to the simpler task of computing exponentials of certain 4X 4 matrices. For the latter purpose closed form expressions for the minimal polynomials of these 4 X 4 matrices are obtained, without having to compute their eigenstructure. Finally, a novel representation of Sp(4)is provided which may be of independent interest. Among the byproducts of this work are natural interpretations for some members of an orthogonal basis for M(4, R) provided by the isomorphism with the quaternion tensor product, and a first principles approach to the spin groups in dimensions five and six.