Definition. Reflection in a nonisotropic vector [lawson2016spin, I.2, (2.12), p. 14] [fcap-0009]

Let \(F\) be a field of characteristic different from \(2\), let \(Q\) be a quadratic form on an \(F\)-vector space \(V\), and write \[B_Q(x,y)=Q(x+y)-Q(x)-Q(y)\] for its polar form. If \(Q(v)\ne 0\), the reflection with normal vector \(v\) is \[\rho _v(w)=w-\frac {B_Q(v,w)}{Q(v)}v.\] It fixes \(v^\perp \) pointwise, sends \(v\) to \(-v\), and preserves \(Q\). Multiplying \(v\) by a nonzero scalar does not change \(\rho _v\).