reflective optical elements (original) (raw)

Author: the photonics expert (RP)

Definition: optical elements based on reflection of light

Category: general optics

• optical elements
  • achromatic optics
  • adaptive optics
  • aspheric optics
  • custom optics
  • diffractive optics
  • fiber optics
  • flat optics
  • large diameter optics
  • laser optics
  • nonlinear optics
  • optical elements for imaging
  • polarization optics
  • refractive optical elements
  • reflective optical elements
    * mirrors
    * reflectors
    * retroreflectors
    * corner cube prisms
    * axicons
  • beam splitters
  • beam collimators
  • beam expanders
  • beam homogenizers
  • diffusers
  • group velocity delay compensation plates
  • optical apertures
  • optical attenuators
  • optical filters
  • optical modulators
  • optical windows
  • phase corrector plates
  • (more topics)

Related: optical elementsreflectionreflectorsmirrors

DOI: 10.61835/533 Cite the article: BibTex BibLaTex plain textHTML Link to this page! LinkedIn

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Contents

What are Reflective Optical Elements?

Reflective optical elements are those which essentially rely on reflection of light, rather than e.g. on refraction or diffraction.

Typical examples are:

• Mirrors of various types reflect light. Some have curved surfaces, which allow focusing or defocusing. Reflection may be obtained with dielectric coatings, metal coatings or other means. Mirror sizes range from microns to many meters in large telescopes. Reflection can be nearly complete or partial, e.g. for beam splitters and for output couplers of lasers.
• Prisms are also widely used as reflectors, e.g. corner cube prisms for precise retroreflection.

Achromatic Nature

Reflective elements usually do not exhibit any chromatic dispersion, because propagation directions of light are determined by geometrical circumstances only. In imaging applications, this can be a vital advantage over refractive optical elements.

Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ section was generated with AI based on the article content and has been reviewed by the article’s author (RP).

What defines a reflective optical element?

A reflective optical element is a component that manipulates light primarily through reflection, as opposed to refraction or diffraction. Typical examples are mirrors and certain types of prisms.

What is the main advantage of using reflective optics for imaging?

Reflective elements are generally free of chromatic dispersion because the propagation direction of light is determined by geometry, not by wavelength-dependent material properties. This absence of chromatic aberration is a significant advantage over refractive optical elements.

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