Reflection in a mirror of negative curvature

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

This discussion explores the behavior of reflection on surfaces of negative Gaussian curvature, specifically focusing on how reflection in a saddle-shaped mirror differs from traditional reflection in spherical mirrors. The user notes that reflection in a sphere can be understood as inversion, and seeks to generalize this concept to arbitrary 3D surfaces. Key insights include the relationship between curvature and reflection, emphasizing that a saddle mirror stretches along one axis while compressing along another.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Gaussian curvature
  • Familiarity with the concept of inversion in geometry
  • Knowledge of reflection principles in optics
  • Basic grasp of differential geometry
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the mathematical foundations of Gaussian curvature
  • Study the principles of inversion in higher dimensions
  • Explore the behavior of light on non-Euclidean surfaces
  • Investigate applications of reflection in optics on arbitrary surfaces
USEFUL FOR

Mathematicians, physicists, and optical engineers interested in the properties of reflection on complex surfaces, particularly those studying non-Euclidean geometry and its applications in optics.

Jeff.N
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
How Does Reflection Behave In Arbitrary Surfaces

Hi

I am interested to know how reflection would behave in a mirror on a surface of negative [gaussian] curvature.

I tried googleing it and found nothing useful
Thanks


Edit:

Reflection in a sphere behaves like inversion in a sphere given that the point we are reflecting is closer to the portion of surface in which we reflect than the center of the sphere, and the mirror is indefinitely thin.[If I'm not mistaken]

Inversion in a sphere is a generalization of inversion in a circle. 2D Reflections in circles [i think, just play along] can be generalized to arbitrary curves by finding the normal line(s) through the curve passing through the point we wish to reflect and inverting that point in the respective circles of curvature.

What was motivating my question is that I was wondering if this idea could be generalized to reflection in arbitrary surfaces in 3D.
However I am not sure how Does Reflection Behave In A Surface At points In Which The Curvature Is Different Along Different Curves In The Surface. Can It be formulated similarly to the 2D model I described?
 
Last edited:
Science news on Phys.org
Jeff.N said:
Hi

I am interested to know how reflection would behave in a mirror on a surface of negative [gaussian] curvature.

I tried googleing it and found nothing useful
Thanks

A saddle shaped mirror will stretch along one direction and shrink along the other.

4969,xcitefun-cloud-gate-2.jpg


C0098983-Cloud_Gate_sculpture_in_Chicago-SPL.jpg
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
4K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
5K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
5K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
6K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K