Simple model of corner reflector phenomena.

The principle of cube corner reflector operation is simple, and a careful examination of operational details is valuable in promoting an understanding of the potentials and limitations in reflector use. This paper describes an easily visualized model by which these principles may be understood. From this model, simple procedures may be derived for determining the effective aperture area variation of conventional corner reflector configurations. The variation of the effective aperture of some conventional configurations is then computed. The effects of angular errors in the alignment of the reflecting surfaces are also modeled.