(i - δ) curve of a prism in ray optics in the light of the refined unambiguous angles of incidence and refraction

This paper makes use of the unambiguous definitions of angles of incidence and refraction offered by the author in 2005 to make an extensive study of the theoretical behavior of the (i - δ) curve of a prism in ray optics. Novel relations have been achieved for the explicit dependence of the final angle of emergence (i2) as well as the net deviation (δ) on the unambiguous primary angle of incidence (i1). Considering a glass prism with angle, A = 60° and refractive index, μ = 1.5, the theoretical relations developed have been subsequently employed to predict the graphical behavior of each of the (i1 versus i2) curve, (i1 versus (i2 − i1)) curve, and (i1 versus δ) curve. Though the quantitative interpretation of the peculiar nature of the (i1 versus δ) curve of a prism follows from the relevant relation derived in the paper, qualitative interpretation regarding the peculiar trend of variation of the net deviation (δ) with the unambiguous primary angle of incidence (i1) has also been provided on the basis of the (i1 versus i2) as well as (i1 versus (i2 − i1)) curves.