Rational two-parameter families of spheres and rational offset surfaces (Q1034544)

A surface in \(\mathbb R^3\) is called PN (Pythagorean normal) if it admits a parametrization in terms of rational functions so that its Gauss map is rational as well. A sphere congruence, given in terms of the Laguerre geometric representation \((u,v)\mapsto(m,r)(u,v)\in\mathbb R^{3,1}\), is called an MOS surface if its induced area form can be expressed in terms of the square of a rational function, see [\textit{J. Kosinka, B. Jüttler}, MOS surfaces: medical surface transforms withrational domain boundaries. Mathematics of surfaces XII. 12th IMA international conference, Sheffield, UK, September 4--6, 2007. Proceedings. Berlin: Springer. Lecture Notes in Computer Science 4647, 245--262 (2007; Zbl 1163.68353)]. The author relates the two notions, indicates an application in geometrical optics and discusses various classes of examples in detail.