Bounds on the Levels of Composition Algebras

Abstract

Certain families of quaternion and octonion algebras are conjectured to be of level and sublevel n. A proof of this conjecture is offered in the case where n is a power of two. Hoffmann's proof of the existence of infinitely many new values for the level of a quaternion algebra is generalised and adapted. Alternative constructions of quaternion and octonion algebras are introduced and justified in the case where n is a multiple of a two power.