WOLFRAM|DEMONSTRATIONS PROJECT

Catacaustics for Some Graphs

​
mirror
-
1-
2
x
4
x
3
x
-x+
3
x
-
3
x
+
5
x
-
1/3
(
2
x
)
Sin[x]
3
Sin[x]
x

-Log[x]
lines
10
20
50
100
200
500
1000
Vertical rays are reflected off the graph of a function and the corresponding catacaustic is plotted. The envelope of reflected or refracted lines coming from a point source is called a catacaustic or a diacaustic, respectively. In this case the source is infinitely far above the graph and the lines reflect off the graph as off a mirror.