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JOURNALS // Uspekhi Matematicheskikh Nauk // Archive

Uspekhi Mat. Nauk, 1988 Volume 43, Issue 3(261), Pages 125–160 (Mi rm1892)

This article is cited in 59 papers

Wavefronts and reflection groups

O. P. Shcherbak


Abstract: Typical singularities of wave fronts and ray systems passing by smooth obstacle in $3$-space are described in the article. These singularities turn out to be connected with noncristallographic Coxeter groups $I_2(5)$, $H_3$, $H_4$. Proofs are based on the detail in­vestigation of the discriminants of these groups by their inclusion into cristallographic ones $A_4$, $D_6$, $E_8$ correspondently. Besides, there is given a geometrical description of some singularities of bicaustics in collisionless flows of particles. It is based on inclu­sions of Coxeter groups $A_1^\mu$, $D_\mu$, $D_4$ into $B_\mu$, $G_\mu$, $F_4$ as normal subgroups. The article contains a wide table matherial on neutral stratification of discriminants of reflection groups.
32 refs.

UDC: 514.8

MSC: 20F55, 51F15

Received: 31.03.1987


 English version:
Russian Mathematical Surveys, 1988, 43:3, 149–194

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© Steklov Math. Inst. of RAS, 2024