Superalgebra
In mathematics and theoretical physics, a superalgebra is a Z2-graded algebra. That is, it is an algebra over a commutative ring or field with a decomposition into "even" and "odd" pieces and a multiplication operator that respects the grading.
The prefix super- comes from the theory of supersymmetry in theoretical physics. Superalgebras and their representations, supermodules, provide an algebraic framework for formulating supersymmetry. The study of such objects is sometimes called super linear algebra. Superalgebras also play an important role in related field of supergeometry where they enter into the definitions of graded manifolds, supermanifolds and superschemes.
Formal definition
Let K be a fixed commutative ring. In most applications, K is a field such as R or C.
A superalgebra over K is a K-module A with a direct sum decomposition
together with a bilinear multiplication A × A → A such that
where the subscripts are read modulo 2.
A superring, or Z2-graded ring, is a superalgebra over the ring of integers Z.
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