Michael K. Kinyon
Global left loop structures on spheres

Comment.Math.Univ.Carolinae 41,2 (2000) 325-346.

Abstract:On the unit sphere $\Bbb S$ in a real Hilbert space $\bold H$, we derive a binary operation $\odot $ such that $(\Bbb S,\odot )$ is a power-associative Kikkawa left loop with two-sided identity $\bold e_{0}$, i.e., it has the left inverse, automorphic inverse, and $A_l$ properties. The operation $\odot $ is compatible with the symmetric space structure of $\Bbb S$. $(\Bbb S,\odot )$ is not a loop, and the right translations which fail to be injective are easily characterized. $(\Bbb S,\odot )$ satisfies the left power alternative and left Bol identities ``almost everywhere'' but not everywhere. Left translations are everywhere analytic; right translations are analytic except at $-\bold e_{0}$ where they have a nonremovable discontinuity. The orthogonal group $O(\bold H)$ is a semidirect product of $(\Bbb S,\odot )$ with its automorphism group. The left loop structure of $(\Bbb S,\odot )$ gives some insight into spherical geometry.

Keywords: loop, quasigroup, sphere, Hilbert space, spherical geometry
AMS Subject Classification: 20N05

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