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    Exact geometric optics of parabolic mirrors: The angular caustic and geometric stability analysis

    Luciano Medina1,2,* and Eric Davis2

    • *Contact author: lmedina2@albany.edu

    Phys. Rev. A 114, 043530 – Published 26 October, 2026

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/lkww-wfxb

    Abstract

    We derive an analytical solution for the angular caustic in parabolic mirrors, extending geometric optics beyond the paraxial approximation. By solving the ray-mapping equations for the parabolic profile, we determine the topology of the critical ray manifold. We find that the focal singularity is not a static point but a continuous angular distribution extending toward grazing incidence in the near-field regime. This singularity is classified as a stable A2-fold catastrophe, distinct from the degenerate focus of the linear limit, providing analytical bounds for the finite macroscopic window of the two-ray interference regime. Furthermore, we evaluate the geometric stability of the cavity to establish bounds for experimental setups. By defining an intermediate parameter window governed by the short-wavelength limit (λ/b≪1) and a near-field observation distance (0.30≤a/b≤0.40), we identify the operational regime where the nonparaxial caustic shift macroscopically clears the diffraction limit while remaining robust against mechanical error amplification. These results provide a geometric framework for determining macroscopic spatial structures and optimal trap positioning for cavity QED, optical trapping, and semiclassical field theory within strongly curved mirror geometries.

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