RAY TRACE THROUGH A CORNER-CUBE RETROREFLECTOR WITH COMPLEX REFLECTION COEFFICIENTS

A vector formulation is used to derive an analytical expression for th e complex reflectivity of a corner-cube retroreflector, with use of th e complex reflection coefficients for the s and p polarization. This e xpression shows that the corner-cube retroreflector modifies the incom ing electric field according to the angle of incidence and the ray pat h through the retroreflector. The change in the electric field depends on the errors in the surface finish, the coating nonuniformity, and t he nonhomogeneity in the index of refraction in the case of the solid corner-cube retroreflector. The main point is that the corner-cube ret roreflector conjugates the incident beam only in the case of a plane w ave with a constant amplitude incident upon a perfect corner-cube retr oreflector.