This thesis addresses the challenging task of synthesizing novel views of natural scenes influenced by heat-shimmering effects due to variations in refractive indices. We develop a novel computational model that employs Neural Radiance Fields (NeRF) for accurate simulation of light refraction and reconstruction of three-dimensional refractive index fields. Our approach integrates two ray marching techniques: Iterative Bending (IB) for high accuracy in dataset generation, and Non-Translating (NT) to enhance training efficiency by assuming nearly straight ray paths, facilitating faster computations while maintaining accuracy. This methodology adeptly captures the dynamic visual effects and physical scene details.Validation involved creating diverse temperature fields with sinusoidal distributions and Gaussian enhancements, known as Gabor wavelets. These wavelets, with their Gaussian component, ensure a constant ambient temperature outside for stable testing conditions. Rigorous evaluations using various boundary conditions demonstrated the model's robust performance in structured environments like urban scenes and smooth noisy backgrounds. However, smooth gradient backgrounds posed challenges due to a lack of distinct features necessary for accurate refraction predictions. This research highlights the potential of complex optical simulations and suggests applications in diverse fields, setting a foundation for further advancements in computer vision and realistic environmental rendering.
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