Nature s optics and our understanding of light

Optical phenomena visible to everyone have been central to the development of and abundantly illustrate important concepts in science and mathematics The phenomena considered include rainbows sparkling reflections on water mirages green flashes earthlight on the moon glories daylight crystals and the squint moon The concepts include refraction caustics focal singularities of ray optics wave interference numerical experiments mathematical asymptotics dispersion complex angular momentum Regge poles polarization singularities Hamilton s conical intersections of eigenvalues misnamed Dirac points geometric phases and visual illusionsRefreshments are served at 14:45