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Analytical caustic surfacesThis document discusses the determination of caustic surfaces in terms of rays, reflectors, and wavefronts. Analytical caustics are obtained as a family of lines, a set of points, and several types of equations for geometries encountered in optics and microwave applications. Standard methods of differential geometry are applied under different approaches: directly to reflector surfaces, and alternatively, to wavefronts, to obtain analytical caustics of two sheets or branches. Gauss/Seidel aberrations are introduced into the wavefront approach, forcing the retention of all three coefficients of both the first- and the second-fundamental forms of differential geometry. An existing method for obtaining caustic surfaces through exploitation of the singularities in flux density is examined, and several constant-intensity contour maps are developed using only the intrinsic Gaussian, mean, and normal curvatures of the reflector. Numerous references are provided for extending the material of the present document to the morphologies of caustics and their associated diffraction patterns.
Document ID
19880001678
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Schmidt, R. F.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
September 5, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 1987
Subject Category
Electronics And Electrical Engineering
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.15:87805
NASA-TM-87805
REPT-87B0244
Report Number: NAS 1.15:87805
Report Number: NASA-TM-87805
Report Number: REPT-87B0244
Accession Number
88N11060
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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