caustic curve
noun1
Engineering, Natural sciences, Optics, Physical sciences, Physics A curve to which the ray of light, reflected or refracted by another curve, are tangents, the reflecting or refracting curve and the luminous point being in one plane.
- Caustic curves and surfaces are called catacaustic when formed by reflection, and diacaustic when formed by refraction.
- Related terms
- caustic, caustic surface, focus