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Optimization techniques for curved path computing

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Abstract

Participating media with an inhomogeneous index of refraction make light follow curved paths. Simulating this in a global illumination environment has usually been neglected due to the complexity of the calculations involved, sacrificing accurate physical simulations for efficient visual results.

This paper aims to simulate non-linear media in a more reasonable time than previous works without losing physical correctness. Accuracy is achieved by solving the Eikonal equation of geometrical optics, which describes the path followed by a light beam that traverses a non-linear medium. This equation is used in the context of a photon mapping extension.

To improve the efficiency of the method, we study the existing correlation between numerical methods and the description of the non-linear medium, in terms of simulation time and error. Also, by taking advantage of several features of the scenes that include non-linear media, new optimization techniques that can be applied both for ray tracing and photon mapping will be developed. Flight or driving simulators could greatly benefit from this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Grupo de Informatica Grafica Avanzada (GIGA), University of Zaragoza, Maria de Luna 1, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain

    Adolfo Muñoz, Diego Gutierrez & Francisco J. Serón

Authors
  1. Adolfo Muñoz
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  2. Diego Gutierrez
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  3. Francisco J. Serón
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Correspondence to Francisco J. Serón.

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Muñoz, A., Gutierrez, D. & Serón, F. Optimization techniques for curved path computing. Visual Comput 23, 493–502 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00371-007-0122-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00371-007-0122-y

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