title: Wavefronts, caustics, and ronchigrams of a spherical wave reflected by a spherical mirror.
abstract: The aim of the present work is twofold: first we obtain analytical expressions for both the wavefronts and the caustic associated with the light rays reflected by a spherical mirror after being emitted by a point light source located at an arbitrary position in free space, and second, we describe, in detail, the structure of the ronchigrams when the grating or Ronchi ruling is placed at different relative positions to the caustic region and the point light source is located on and off the optical axis. We find that, in general, the caustic has two branches: one is a segment of a line, and the other is a two-dimensional surface. The wavefronts, at the caustic region, have self intersections and singularities. The ronchigrams exhibit closed-loop fringes when the grating is placed at the caustic region.
authors: Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Óptica y Electrónica, Apartado Postal 51 y 216, Tonantzintla, Puebla, C.P. 72000, Mexico.
authors: Jorge
authors: J
authors: Castro-Ramos
authors: Magdalena
authors: M
authors: Marciano-Melchor
authors: Mariana
authors: M
authors: Marcelino-Aranda
authors: Edwin
authors: E
authors: Román-Hernández
authors: José Guadalupe
authors: JG
authors: Santiago-Santiago
authors: Gilberto
authors: G
authors: Silva-Ortigoza
authors: Ramón
authors: R
authors: Silva-Ortigoza
authors: Román
authors: R
authors: Suárez-Xique
authors: José Miguel
authors: JM
authors: Zárate-Paz