Products of half-turns (Q1072648)

Let \(V\) be a vector space over a field of characteristic \(\neq 2\) and \(f\) be a symmetric bilinear form on \(V\). \(V\) is allowed to be of infinite dimension and \(f\) to be degenerate. Let \(R=V^{\perp}\). If \(g\in GL(V)\) then \(B(g)=Im(1-g)V\) and \(F(g)=Ker(1-g)V\). The group \(O(V,f)=\{g\in GL(V)\mid f(x,y)=f(gx,gy)\), \(\dim B(g)<\infty\) and \(F(g)\supset R\}\) is called the orthogonal group of \((V,f)\). Let \(O^+(V)=O(V,f)\cap SL(V)\). An element \(x\in O(V)\) is called a reflection if \(\dim B(x)=1\) and \(B(x)\not\subset R\). If \(z=xy\) where \(x,y\) are reflections and if \(B(x)\subset B(y)^{\perp}\) then \(z\) is called a half-turn. Thus a half-turn is an involution and the multiplicity of the eigenvalue \(-1\) is 2. The main result asserts that if \(g\in O^+(V)\) and \(2t=\dim B(g)+\dim(B(g)\cap R)\) then \(g\) is a product of \(t\), \(t+1\) or \(t+2\) half-turns. -- For a general picture of the problems similar to the one in question the author refers to his earlier article [Abh. Math. Semin. Univ. Hamb. 46, 97-127 (1977; Zbl 0367.50002)].