Associators and Commutators in Alternative Algebras

Abstract

It is proved that in a unital alternative algebra A of characteristic ≠ 2, the associator (a, b, c) and the Kleinfeld function f(a, b, c, d) never assume the value 1 for any elements a, b, c, d ∈ A. Moreover, if A is nonassociative, then no commutator [a, b] can be equal to 1. As a consequence, there do not exist algebraically closed alternative algebras. The restriction on the characteristic is essential, as exemplified by the Cayley–Dickson algebra over a field of characteristic 2.