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On the Symplectic Structures Arising in Geometric Optics
Author(s) -
Cariñena José F.,
Nasarre Javier
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
fortschritte der physik/progress of physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.469
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1521-3978
pISSN - 0015-8208
DOI - 10.1002/prop.2190440302
Subject(s) - symplectic geometry , mathematics , constant (computer programming) , geometrical optics , point (geometry) , simple (philosophy) , ray , refractive index , geometry , mathematical analysis , physics , optics , computer science , philosophy , epistemology , programming language
Geometric optics is analysed using the techniques of Presymplectic Geometry. We obtain the symplectic structure of the space of light rays in a medium of a non constant refractive index by reduction from a presymplectic structure, and using adapted coordinates, we find Darboux coordinates. The theory is illustrated with some examples and we point out some simple physical applications.