A COMPLETE RAYOPTIC ANALYSIS OF THE MIRAGE TOY

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A COMPLETE RAY-OPTIC ANALYSIS OF THE MIRAGE TOY
SRIYA ADHYA and JOHN NOÉ Laser Teaching Center,
Department of Physics Astronomy Stony Brook
University Stony Brook, New York
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Primary Image
Parabolic
1f
Spherical
1f
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First Secondary Image
Realistic Rays
1.38f
Parabolic
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First Secondary Image
Paraxial Rays
Parabolic
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Second Secondary Image
Realistic Rays
1.55f
Parabolic
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Third Secondary Image
Paraxial Rays
Parabolic
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Third Secondary Image
Realistic Rays
1.65f
Parabolic
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Primary Image at 3 Focal Lengths
Paraxial Rays
Parabolic
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Primary Image at 3 Focal Lengths
Paraxial Rays
3f
Parabolic
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Realistic Rays
Primary Image at 3 Focal Lengths
Parabolic
3f
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Mirage History

• The Mirage idea came from a chance
  observation of an image formed by World War II
  surplus searchlight mirrors stacked in a closet
  at the UC Santa Barbara Physics Department.
• It was patented in 1972 by Caliste Landry and
  Virgil Elings (founder of Digital Instruments,
  Inc).
• This patent transferred to Michael Levin in
  1977.
• Levin's company Opti-Gone International has
  made over 500,000 units to date.
• A very large Mirage (22 inch diameter ) is
  also available.