A COMPLETE RAY-OPTIC ANALYSIS OF THE “MIRAGE” TOY

SRIYA ADHYA and JOHN NOÉLaser Teaching Center,

Department of Physics & Astronomy

Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, New York

Parabolic

Spherical

1f

1f

Primary Image

First Secondary Image

1.38f

Parabolic

Realistic Rays

First Secondary Image

Paraxial Rays

Parabolic

Second Secondary Image

1.55f

Parabolic

Realistic Rays

Third Secondary Image

Paraxial Rays

Parabolic

Third Secondary Image

Realistic Rays

1.65f

Parabolic

Primary Image at 3 Focal Lengths

Paraxial Rays

Parabolic

Primary Image at 3 Focal Lengths

3f

Paraxial Rays

Parabolic

Prim

ary

Ima

ge

at 3

Fo

ca

l Le

ng

ths

Realistic

Rays

Para

bolic

3f

“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.