Geometry of 2×2 hermitian matrices

Let D be a division ring which possesses an involution a→ā. Assume that F = {a∈D|a=ā} is a proper subfield of D and is contained in the center of D. It is pointed out that if D is of characteristic not two, D is either a separable quadratic extension of F or a division ring of generalized quaternions over F and that if D is of characteristic two, D is a separable quadratic extension of F. Thus the trace map Tr: D→F,hermitian matrices over D when n≥3 and now can be deleted. When D is a field, the fundamental theorem of 2×2 hermitian matrices over D has already been proved. This paper proves the fundamental theorem of 2×2 hermitian matrices over any division ring of generalized quaternions of characteristic not two.

LetD be a division ring which possesses an involution a → α . Assume that $F = \{ a \in D|a = \overline a \} $ is a proper subfield ofD and is contained in the center ofD. It is pointed out that ifD is of characteristic not two, D is either a separable quadratic extension of F or a division ring of generalized quaternions over F and that if D is of characteristic two,D is a separable quadratic extension ofF. Thus the trace map Tr:D → F, a → a + a is always surjective, which is formerly posed as an assumption in the fundamental theorem of n×n hermitian matrices overD when n ≥ 3 and now can be deleted. WhenD is a field, the fundamental theorem of 2 × 2 hermitian matrices overD has already been proved. This paper proves the fundamental theorem of 2×2 hermitian matrices over any division ring of generalized quaternions of characteristic not two