Optical Caustics as Lagrangian Singularities: Classification and Geometric Structure

TL;DR

This paper introduces a rigorous mathematical framework for understanding optical caustics as Lagrangian singularities, classifies stable caustic surfaces, and proposes a topological correction method for optical system design.

Contribution

It develops a symplectic and contact geometric framework for light propagation, classifies caustic singularities, and introduces a novel topological correction approach for optical systems.

Findings

Explicit expressions for caustic surfaces in convex lenses

Complete classification of stable caustic singularities

A new topological method for optical correction

Abstract

This paper develops a rigorous mathematical framework for light propagation by constructing the optical phase space with its symplectic structure and the extended phase space with its contact structure. We prove that light rays in three-dimensional Euclidean space correspond to Reeb orbits in a five-dimensional contact manifold, which are then projected onto a four-dimensional symplectic manifold via symplectic reduction. Leveraging the advantages of phase space, we provide a rigorous definition of caustic surfaces as singularities of the Lagrangian submanifold projection and derive explicit expressions for caustic surfaces in convex lens systems. Furthermore, based on singularity theory, we present a complete classification of stable caustic surfaces and establish a correspondence with classical Seidel aberration theory. Building upon this theory, we propose a method of \emph{topological optical correction} that overcomes the limitations of traditional optimization algorithms in dealing with complex caustic structures. This work provides a new mathematical paradigm for the design and correction of high-precision optical systems.