Gravitational billiards -- bouncing inside a paraboloid cavity

Abstract

In this work the confined domains for a point-like particle propagating within the boundary of an ideally reflecting paraboloid mirror are derived. Thereby it is proven that all consecutive flight parabola foci points lie on the surface of a common sphere of radius R. The main results are illustrated in various limiting cases and are compared to its two-dimensional counterpart.

0

Turn this paper into a lesson

ArcXiv compiles a structured reading guide from this paper's metadata: plain-English importance, contributions, prerequisite concepts, which sections to read first, flashcards, and a quiz. Grounded in the abstract, never invented.

Discussion (0)

Sign in to join the discussion.

Loading comments…