Manipulating caustics
Naturally occurring caustic light patterns are observed as chaotic patterns of light caused for example by the variations in surface contours of water. It is now known, however, that if the surface profile of the water could be precisely controlled, then it is possible to use this effect to project detailed images onto an image plane. One use of caustics has emerged to enhance architectural features of buildings through the contributions of Mark Pauly at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and Phillipe Bombas,2,3 though there is obvious scope for application of this technique across a wider range of applications in optics. Such applications can in theory be further subdivided to 'static' and 'dynamic' implementations where the latter have the potential to create rapidly changing patterns of projected light.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Optician Online. Register now to access up to 10 news and opinion articles a month.
Register
Already have an account? Sign in here
