Abstract
In this paper, the geometrical light rays in lens-like media are discussed. The eikonal equation curlK = 0, written in terms of the wave vector, is used and the characteristic differential equations of the light ray, h1du/ku = h2dυ/kυ = h3dw/kw, are obtained. The quantities which are conserved along the ray are also discussed and the equations of the rays in idealized lens-like media whose refractive indexes vary along one direction, are obtained to integrate the differential equations. For a practical example, the trajectory of the ray in a lens-like medium with square-law index variation is discussed.
© 1966 Optical Society of America
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