Navigation Panel: (IMAGE)(IMAGE)(IMAGE)(IMAGE) (SWITCH TO TEXT-ONLY VERSION) (IMAGE)(IMAGE)(IMAGE)(IMAGE) (These buttons explained below)

SIMMER

Society Investigating Mathematical Mind-Expanding Recreations


November 1997 Feature Presentation
Wave Propagation and the Formation of Caustics
Antônio Sá Barreto

Department of Mathematics
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 47907,
U.S.A

sabarre@math.purdue.edu

In this lecture we will discuss one example of a mathematical problem which arises in the theory of geometric optics. When light passes through, or is reflected by, a smooth surface, the image formed is in general a surface with singularities, that is, kinks or corners. These singularities are called caustics. There is a classical example of a cusp formed in a tea cup, which we hope we can demonstrate. We will state the general mathematical question, but we will concentrate our discussion on this particular example.

  • History of the Problem
  • Problems
  • Some Tools to Solve the Problems
  • Solutions to the problems
  • The Maple Program
  • References


  • Navigation Panel: (IMAGE)(IMAGE)(IMAGE)(IMAGE) (SWITCH TO TEXT-ONLY VERSION) (IMAGE)(IMAGE)(IMAGE)(IMAGE)

    (IMAGE) Go down to first subsection History of the Problem
     (SWITCH TO TEXT-ONLY VERSION) Switch to text-only version (no graphics)
    (IMAGE) Access printed version in PostScript format (requires PostScript printer)
    (IMAGE) Go to SIMMER Home Page
    (IMAGE) Go to The Fields Institute Home Page
    (IMAGE) Go to University of Toronto Mathematics Network Home Page