A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

The Ptolemy-Alhazen problem and quadric surface mirror reflection




AuthorsFujimura Masayo, Mocanu Marcelina, Vuorinen Matti

PublisherTAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

Publication year2022

JournalComplex Variables and Elliptic Equations

Journal name in sourceCOMPLEX VARIABLES AND ELLIPTIC EQUATIONS

Journal acronymCOMPLEX VAR ELLIPTIC

Number of pages19

ISSN1747-6933

eISSN1747-6941

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1080/17476933.2022.2084537

Web address https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17476933.2022.2084537

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/175834703


Abstract

We discuss the problem of the reflection of light on spherical and quadric surface mirrors. In the case of spherical mirrors, this problem is known as the Alhazen problem. For the spherical mirror problem, we focus on the reflection property of an ellipse and show that the catacaustic curve of the unit circle follows naturally from the equation obtained from the reflection property of an ellipse. Moreover, we provide an algebraic equation that solves Alhazen's problem for quadric surface mirrors.


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Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 16:31