Lemma. The real Spin kernel is the scalar pair [gallier2014clifford, Section 1.8, Proposition 1.21, pp. 39--40] [fcap-001C]
✍️source
zmodTwoMulEquivKerSpinToSpecialOrthogonal
L∃∀N

For a real quadratic space of signature \((p,q)\), the kernel of the Spin action is the scalar pair: \[(\mathbb Z/2\mathbb Z)_{\mathrm {mult}} \simeq \ker \bigl (\operatorname {Spin}(p,q)\longrightarrow SO(p,q)\bigr ).\] The nontrivial residue class maps to the scalar Clifford element \(-1\). Thus the two kernel elements are precisely \(1\) and \(-1\). This is the kernel used in Gallier's real double-cover theorem.

TauCeti proves the analogous algebraic statement over a field \(K\): \(V\) is nontrivial and finite-dimensional, \(Q\) is nondegenerate, and \(2\) is invertible in \(K\). Under exactly those hypotheses it constructs the displayed canonical multiplicative equivalence. This is a generalization of the cited real result, not an attribution of arbitrary-field kernel classification to Gallier.

Lemma. The real Spin kernel is the scalar pair [gallier2014clifford, Section 1.8, Proposition 1.21, pp. 39--40] [fcap-001C]
✍️source
zmodTwoMulEquivKerSpinToSpecialOrthogonal
L∃∀N

Reference. Clifford algebras, clifford groups, and a generalization of the quaternions [gallier2014clifford]

From reflection generation to Pin and Spin [fcap-000U]

Lemma. Fixed-subspace correction by reflections [cartan1981theory, Section 10, pp. 10--12] [fcap-000V]

exists_mem_subgroup_mul_eqOn_sup_span_singleton_of_reflection_mem
L∃∀N

Proof.

Lemma. Pin-range refinement of the correction [cartan1981theory, Section 10, pp. 10--12]; [lawson2016spin, I.2, (2.26) and Theorem 2.9, pp. 18--19] [fcap-0018]

exists_mem_range_pinToOrthogonal_mul_eqOn_sup_span_singleton
L∃∀N

Theorem. Cartan--Dieudonne generation [lawson2016spin, I.2, Theorem 2.7, p. 17] [fcap-000W]

subgroup_eq_top_of_reflection_mem
L∃∀N

Proof.

Theorem. Surjectivity of the Pin action [lawson2016spin, I.2, Theorem 2.9, pp. 18--19] [fcap-000X]

pinToOrthogonal_surjective_of_isSquare pinToOrthogonal_surjective
L∃∀N

Example. A planar rotation as two reflections [lawson2016spin, I.2, (2.24)--(2.26), p. 18] [fcap-000Y]

Lemma. Determinant parity detects the even lift [lawson2016spin, I.2, Theorems 2.7 and 2.9, pp. 17--19] [fcap-001A]

det_reflection mem_even_of_det_pinToOrthogonal_eq_one
L∃∀N

Proof.

Theorem. Surjectivity of the Spin action [lawson2016spin, I.2, Theorem 2.9, pp. 18--19] [fcap-001B]

spinToSpecialOrthogonal_surjective_of_isSquare spinToSpecialOrthogonal_surjective
L∃∀N

Lemma. The real Spin kernel is the scalar pair [gallier2014clifford, Section 1.8, Proposition 1.21, pp. 39--40] [fcap-001C]
✍️source
zmodTwoMulEquivKerSpinToSpecialOrthogonal
L∃∀N

Theorem. The algebraic Spin extension [meinrenken2013clifford, Definition 3.2, pp. 51--52] [fcap-001D]

spinDoubleCoverOfSurjective spinDoubleCover
L∃∀N

Lemma. The real Pin kernel is the scalar pair [gallier2014clifford, Section 1.8, Proposition 1.21, pp. 39--40] [fcap-001E]

zmodTwoMulEquivKerPinToOrthogonal
L∃∀N

Theorem. The algebraic Pin extension [meinrenken2013clifford, Definition 3.2, pp. 51--52] [fcap-001F]

pinDoubleCoverOfSurjective pinDoubleCover
L∃∀N

Remark. Algebraic extension versus topological cover [fcap-000Z]