Richard K. Morris

A Client-Server System for the Visualisation of Algebraic Surfaces on the Web

Algebraic surfaces, defined as the zero set of a polynomial function in three variables, present a particular problem for visualising, especially if the surface contains singularities. Most algorithms for constructing a polygonization of the surface will miss the singular points. We present an algorithm for polygonizing such surfaces which attempts to get accurate representations of the singular points. A client-server approach, with a Java applet and a C program as back end, is used to enable the visualisation of the polygonal mesh in a web browser. This system allows algebraic surfaces to be viewed in any web browser and on any platform.