caustic curve

English

Noun

caustic curve (plural caustic curves)

1. (optics) A curve to which the ray of light, reflected or refracted by another curve, are tangents, the reflecting or refracting curve and the luminous point being in one plane.

   Caustic curves and surfaces are called catacaustic when formed by reflection, and diacaustic when formed by refraction.

See also

• caustic
• caustic surface
• focus