Search light in billiard tables
2003, Volume 8, Number 2, pp. 225-241
Author(s): Chernov N., Galperin G. A.
Author(s): Chernov N., Galperin G. A.
We investigate whether a search light, S, illuminating a tiny angle ("cone") with vertex A inside a bounded region Q∈R2 with the mirror boundary ∂Q, will eventually illuminate the entire region Q. It is assumed that light rays hitting the corners of Q terminate. We prove that: (I) if Q= a circle or an ellipse, then either the entire Q or an annulus between two concentric circles/confocal ellipses (one of which is ∂Q) or the region between two confocal hyperbolas will be illuminated; (II) if Q= a square, or (III) if Q= a dispersing (Sinai) or semidespirsing billiards, then the entire region Q is will be illuminated.
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