On the symplectic structures arising in Optics

Abstract

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

AmsTeX file and 2 figures (epsf required). To appear in Forsch. der Physik. This version replaces that of (96/02/09) where postcript files containing figures were corrupted

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