I might ramble here, but anyway...

Just thinking about variable IOR today, and I reread the section of the 
VFAQ on it.  Basically, by specifying variable IOR as a property of 
media, the density of the media could be used to vary the IOR.  By 
supersampling the media enough, it should be possible to get decently 
accurate images (even though they may take days or weeks to render {but, 
this has never stopped POVers before, has it?}).  It should be even 
possible to get a more or less accurate derivative of the density 
function, and guess the correct length for the next ray segment.

Anyway, however slow it is (again - has slowness ever stopped POVers 
before?), does anyone else think it might be time to try it out?  Used 
properly, this would allow some great effects.  Mostly, I'm thinking of 
subtle heat shimmers in landscape scenes - but I'm sure there are others.

...Chambers

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