For every dimension , the orthogonal group is the group of orthogonal matrices. These matrices form a group because they are closed under multiplication and taking inverses.

Thinking of a matrix as given by coordinate functions, the set of matrices is identified with . The orthogonal matrices are the solutions to the equations

(1)

where is the identity matrix, which are redundant. Only of these are independent, leaving "free variables." In fact, the orthogonal group is a smooth -dimensional submanifold.

Because the orthogonal group is a group and a manifold, it is a Lie group. has a submanifold tangent space at the identity that is the Lie algebra of antisymmetric matrices . In fact, the orthogonal group is a compact Lie group.

The determinant of an orthogonal matrix is either 1 or , and so the orthogonal group has two components. The component containing the identity is the special orthogonal group . For example, the group has group action on the plane that is a rotation:

(2)

where is any real number in . These matrices preserve the quadratic form , and so they also preserve circles , which are the group orbits.

As a manifold, consists of two disjoint copies of the circle.

There are several generalizations of the orthogonal group. First, it is possible to define the orthogonal group for any symmetric quadratic form with matrix signature . The group of matrices which preserve , that is,

(3)

is denoted . The Lorentz group is . For example, the matrices

(4)

are elements of . They preserve the quadratic form so they preserve the hyperbolas .

Instead of using real numbers for the coefficients, it is possible to use coefficients from any field , in which case it is denoted . The orthogonal matrices still satisfy . For example, contains

(5)

and has 48 elements in total.

Of course, denotes the group of matrices which preserve the symmetric quadratic form of matrix signature , with coefficients in the field . When is not or , these are called Lie-type groups.

When the coefficients are complex numbers, it is called the complex orthogonal group, which is much different from the unitary group. For example, matrices of the form

(6)

are in . In particular, is not compact. The equations defining in affine space are polynomials of degree two. Consequently, is a linear algebraic group.

The numbers of subgroups of orders , 2, 3, ... in the orthogonal group are 1, 3, 1, 5, 1, 5, 1, 7, 1, 5, 1, 8, ... (Sloane's A001051), i.e., a repeating sequence of copies of with the exceptions , , , , and .

This entry contributed by Todd Rowland

CITE THIS AS:

Rowland, Todd. "Orthogonal Group." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource, created by Eric W. Weisstein. http://mathworld.wolfram.com/OrthogonalGroup.html