OPOD - Prism HD for iPad

Last updated on September 16, 2023

OPOD - Prism HD for iPad: Exploring the Fascinating World of Atmospheric Optics

Have you ever been captivated by the mesmerizing beauty of atmospheric optics? The way light interacts with the atmosphere to create stunning phenomena like rainbows, sundogs, and circumzenithal arcs is truly awe-inspiring. Now, with the help of modern technology, you can delve deeper into the world of atmospheric optics using the "Prism HD" app for iPad and iPhone.

Developed by Orion Elenzil, "Prism HD" is an innovative app that combines the principles of optics with accuracy and visual appeal. With just a touch of your finger, you can embark on an exploration of refraction and dispersion, unlocking the secrets behind these enchanting natural phenomena.

Let's take a closer look at some of the features and wonders you can discover with the "Prism HD" app:

Unveiling the Circumzenithal Arc and More

• Rays of sunlight strike the top face of a horizontal plate ice crystal. Some of these rays externally reflect upwards, creating a subsun for those fortunate enough to be in airplanes. Others exit through a vertical side face, forming a vibrant circumzenithal arc.

• As the sun climbs higher in the sky, the internal angle of incidence becomes too steep for all but deep red rays to escape and form a circumzenithal arc. Instead, these rays undergo total internal reflection and leave the crystal through its lower face, contributing to the formation of the parhelic circle.

• With the sun positioned slightly higher, the conditions necessary for a circumzenithal arc are no longer met, resulting in its absence.

Unlocking the Orders of Rainbows

• When sunlight enters a raindrop, the "Prism HD" app allows you to control the level of attenuation, revealing multiple internal reflections and higher orders of rainbows.

• As the order of rainbows increases, they become wider and fainter. Thanks to advancements in photography, researchers have recently captured images of the elusive 3rd and 4th order rainbows for the first time.

The Enigmatic Sundog

• When rays of light meet a horizontal plate crystal, some reflect into the parhelic circle, while others leave through a face inclined at 60° to form a prismatic sundog or a 22° parhelion.

• But what about those rays that undergo internal reflection and emerge at different angles? The "Prism HD" app allows you to observe and study the fascinating formations created by these rays, adding a new layer of understanding to the enigmatic world of sundogs.

The "Prism HD" app for iPad and iPhone offers an immersive and educational experience for anyone intrigued by atmospheric optics. By providing a user-friendly interface and accurate simulations, this app enables users to explore and appreciate the intricate workings of light in our atmosphere.

So, whether you're a student, a professional in the field of optics, or simply an enthusiast with a curiosity for the natural world, "Prism HD" is your gateway to unraveling the mysteries of atmospheric optics. Download the app today and embark on a captivating journey into the realm of light and color.

Note: This blog post is an expanded version of an article originally published on the Atmospheric Optics website. The original article can be found here.

"Prism HD"

Light shines into a transparent cylinder dispersing into colours. It internally reflects. Reflected rays cluster, cross to sculpt a dazzling curved caustic surface. Those same rays reflect again to form another caustic. And another and another - spirals of caustic light.

A ray tracing by "Prism HD", an iPad/iPhone App combining optics, accuracy and beauty. "Prism HD", made by Orion Elenzil, allows at the touch of a finger an exploration of refraction and dispersion.

Circumzenithal arc and more:

Left - Rays strike the top face of a horizontal plate ice crystal. Some externally reflect upwards to form a subsun for those in airplanes. Others leave through a vertical side face making a colourful circumzenithal arc.

Middle - The sun has climbed. The internal angle of incidence is now too steep for all but deep red rays to escape to form a CZA. Instead they totally internally reflect and leave from the crystal lower face to add to the parhelic circle.

Right - A slightly higher sun and there

is no CZA.

Orders of Rainbows:

Sunlight from far right hits a raindrop. Prism HD's attenuation control is turned down so that we see many internal reflections and higher orders of rainbows.

Rainbows get wider and fainter as their order increases. The long sought 3rd and 4th order bows have recently been photographed for the first time.

The Humble Sundog:

Rays meet a horizontal plate crystal. Some reflect into the parhelic circle. Some leave a face inclined at 60° to the first to form a prismatic sundog or 22° parhelion.

What of those that reflect internally to emerge at different angles. What do they form?

Note: this article has been automatically converted from the old site and may not appear as intended. You can find the original article here.

Reference Atmospheric Optics

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