Algebraic characterization of reversibility in the quaternionic Möbius group
An element of a group is called \emph{reversible} if it is conjugate to its inverse. While reversibility in the quaternionic Möbius group $\mathrm{PSL}(2,\mathbb{H})$ has traditionally been studied using geometric and dynamical methods, we develop a purely algebraic approach. We obtain an explicit, computable criterion for the reversibility of a quaternionic Möbius transformation, expressed solely in terms of the entries of a matrix representative. More precisely, we prove that \[ [A]\in \mathrm{PSL}(2,\mathbb{H}) \text{ is reversible} \quad \Longleftrightarrow \quad β_A^{2}=δ_A^{2}, \] where $β_A$ and $δ_A$ are real conjugacy invariants associated with a lift $A\in \mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb{H})$. Furthermore, we give a complete characterization of reversing symmetries of reversible elements in $\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb{H})$ and $\mathrm{PSL}(2,\mathbb{H})$.
Authors
- Tejbir Lohan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6912-6221)
- Krishnendu Gongopadhyay (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4327-0660)
- Abhishek Mukherjee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9610-8398)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Czechoslovak Mathematical Journal
- Published
- 2026-07-17
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.21136/cmj.2026.0020-26
- Primary Topic
- Algebraic and Geometric Analysis
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- National Board for Higher Mathematics
- Science and Engineering Research Board