The Ptolemy-Alhazen problem and quadric surface mirror reflection

Abstract: We discuss the problem of the reflection of light on spherical and quadric surface mirrors. In the case of spherical mirrors, this problem is known as the Alhazen problem. For the spherical mirror problem, we focus on the reflection property of an ellipse, and show that the catacaustic curve of the unit circle follows naturally from the equation obtained from the reflection property of an ellipse. Moreover, we provide an algebraic equation that solves Alhazen's problem for quadric surface mirrors.