Am 15.02.2015 um 05:13 schrieb Mike Horvath:
> On 2/14/2015 10:25 PM, Mike Horvath wrote:
>> If a parabola reflects parallel lines into its focus, what does a
>> catenary do? What about non-parallel lines?

Um... nothing much of interest as far as optics go, I'd guess. The true 
application for caternaries is in statics, where it's the ideal shape 
for self-suspending arches and bridges.

> I posted a question on Stack Exchange too if you want to look at it.
> There is a diagram to look at.
>
> http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/1148679/ray-curve-mirror-problem

I think an out-of-focus parabola might indeed be exactly what you need 
for that use case.

You could use POV-Ray's photon mapping to test out this hypothesis.

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