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Generic 1-parameter families of caustics by reflexion in the plane

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 October 2008

D. L. Fidal  and
P. J. Giblin
D. L. Fidal
Affiliation:
Department of Pure Mathematics, University of Liverpool
P. J. Giblin
Affiliation:
Department of Pure Mathematics, University of Liverpool
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Extract

Let M (the mirror) be a plane oval (a smooth curve without inflexions), and let sεℝ2\M be the light source. Rays of light emanating from s are reflected by M, and the caustic by reflexion of M relative to s is the envelope of these reflected rays. In this article we suppose that M is generic (the precise assumption is stated later) and that s moves along a smooth curve in the plane; we are then able to describe how the local structure of the caustic changes. In order to state the result we recall a few facts from [3].

Type
Research Article
Information
Mathematical Proceedings of the Cambridge Philosophical Society , Volume 96 , Issue 3 , November 1984 , pp. 425 - 432
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge Philosophical Society 1984

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References

REFERENCES

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