Corner Cube Retroreflectors

Name: Corner Cube Retroreflectors
Brand: PhotonEdge
SKU: PE-SPECIAL-CORNER-049
Availability: LimitedAvailability

Key Specifications

Type	Corner Cube Retroreflector
Material	N-BK7 / UV Fused Silica
Aperture	3-50 mm
Retroreflection	< 1 arc sec deviation
Surface Quality	40-20 / 20-10
Wavefront Error	λ/4 @ 632.8nm
Angles	90° ± 2 arc sec internal
AR Coatings	Available

What Is a Corner Cube Retroreflectors?

Corner cube retroreflectors (also called retroreflecting prisms or corner cubes) consist of three mutually perpendicular reflecting surfaces that return an incident beam parallel to its input direction, regardless of the angle of incidence (within the acceptance angle).

This unique property makes them essential for distance measurement (interferometry, LIDAR), alignment systems, optical surveying, and laser ranging applications.

When Should You Use This Product?

✔ Good Choice When

✓ Distance measurement and interferometry
✓ Laser alignment and auto-collimation
✓ LIDAR and laser ranging systems
✓ Optical surveying and metrology

⚠ Consider an Alternative When

✗ 90° beam deviation → Right Angle Prism

✗ Image rotation → Dove Prism

✗ Constant deviation → Penta Prism

✗ Retroreflection at low cost → Hollow retroreflector

Available Optical Materials

Select the optimal substrate material based on your wavelength, environment, and budget requirements.

Material	Transmission	Key Advantage	Considerations
N-BK7	VIS / NIR (350-2000nm)	General-purpose, low cost	Not for UV < 350nm
UV Fused Silica	UV / VIS / NIR (185-2100nm)	UV-compatible, low CTE	Higher cost

Not sure which material to choose?

Ask AI Optical Engineer

Optical Coating Options

AR Coated

AR on entrance face. TIR on internal surfaces.

Typical use: General retroreflection

Metal-Coated

Enhanced aluminum or silver on reflecting surfaces.

Typical use: Extended acceptance angle, non-TIR designs

HR Coated

Dielectric HR for laser applications.

Typical use: High-power laser retroreflection

How to Specify Your Coating

To select the right coating, please provide: (1) Operating wavelength, (2) Angle of incidence, (3) Required transmission or reflectivity, (4) Laser power density (if applicable), (5) Operating environment.

Engineering Considerations

Key factors to evaluate when specifying this optical component for your system.

Acceptance Angle

Limited by aperture and geometry. Larger apertures accept wider angle ranges.

Wavefront Error

λ/4 is standard. For interferometric applications, request λ/10 or tighter.

TIR vs Metal-Coated

Total internal reflection (TIR) is polarization-dependent at wide angles. Metal coatings reduce this effect.

Retroreflection Accuracy

Internal angle accuracy determines beam deviation from perfect retroreflection. Specify ±2 arc sec for precision use.

Applications

Laser Ranging & LIDAR

Retroreflective targets for distance measurement and 3D mapping.

Metrology & Alignment

Precision alignment references and interferometer targets.

Surveying Instruments

Auto-collimation targets and surveying reference points.

Research & Education

Optical experiments demonstrating retroreflection principles.

Manufacturing & Customization

PhotonEdge supports optical component sourcing, engineering review, and qualified manufacturing through our optical manufacturing network. We coordinate production, coating, and inspection to deliver components that meet your specifications.

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Prototype

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Low Volume

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Volume Production

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Custom Specification

Quality Assurance

Dimensional Inspection

Diameter, thickness, focal length verified per specification

Surface Quality

Scratch-dig inspection under calibrated illumination

Coating Verification

Spectrophotometric measurement of transmission/reflectance

Inspection documentation available according to project requirements. Certificates of Conformance, material test reports, and coating curves can be provided.

You May Also Need

Related Knowledge

Engineering Documentation

The following documentation is available upon request for qualified engineering projects:

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Dimensional Drawing

CAD & dimensional specs per your requirements

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Material Data Sheet

Material properties, transmission curves & certificates

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Coating Performance Curve

Spectrophotometric measurement data

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Inspection Report

Surface quality, flatness, centration & dimensional data

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Certificate of Conformance

CoC with full traceability per project requirements

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Custom Specification Sheet

Application-specific specification documentation

Documentation availability depends on project scope and order quantity. Request details during RFQ.

Frequently Asked Questions

What materials are available?

Standard materials include N-BK7 for visible applications, UV Fused Silica for UV, and CaF₂ for broadband UV-IR.

What are the standard sizes?

We stock common sizes from 5mm to 50mm. Custom dimensions are available upon request.

What surface quality do you offer?

60-40 for standard applications, 40-20 for precision, and 20-10 for laser-grade optics.

Can prisms be used with lasers?

Yes. For laser applications, specify laser-grade surface quality (20-10) and appropriate AR coatings for your wavelength.

How do I specify a prism?

Provide: type, material, dimensions, wavelength, surface quality, and coating requirements.

What is the lead time?

Standard prisms ship within 1-2 weeks. Custom prisms require 3-4 weeks.

What is a corner cube retroreflector?

A prism with three mutually perpendicular surfaces that returns an incident beam parallel to its input, regardless of angle (within acceptance angle).

What is the acceptance angle?

The maximum input angle for which the beam is properly retroreflected. Depends on aperture and geometry.

TIR or metal-coated?

TIR is standard and lossless but polarization-dependent at wide angles. Metal coatings work at wider angles but add loss.

Not Sure Which Specification You Need?

Describe your optical system and our AI Optical Engineer will help identify the right specifications, materials, and coatings for your application.

Analyze My Requirement

Request an Engineering Quote

Provide your requirements and our engineering team will respond within 24 hours with a detailed quotation.

TypeMaterialApertureRetroreflectionSurface QualityWavefront ErrorAnglesAR Coatings

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