  We introduce a reduction from the distinct distances problem in ${\mathbb
R}^d$ to an incidence problem with $(d-1)$-flats in ${\mathbb R}^{2d-1}$.
Deriving the conjectured bound for this incidence problem (the bound predicted
by the polynomial partitioning technique) would lead to a tight bound for the
distinct distances problem in ${\mathbb R}^d$. The reduction provides a large
amount of information about the $(d-1)$-flats, and a framework for deriving
more restrictions that these satisfy. Our reduction is based on introducing a
Lie group that is a double cover of the special Euclidean group. This group can
be seen as a variant of the Spin group, and a large part of our analysis
involves studying its properties.
