Advanced Retroreflective Telescope Baffle

摘要

Optical baffle designs that incorporate arrays of small cell cube cornerretroreflectors to reflect off axis rays back out the entrance aperture of the baffle are discussed. Laboratory measurements of the optical properties of a cube corner array were made and the results presented. The reflection, absorption, and transmission of baffles utilizing cube corner arrays were calculated using PC GUERAP and the results compared to a standard black absorbing baffle design. The reflective baffle designs evaluated are able to reflect from 40 to 80 percent of off axis rays, thus significantly decreasing the energy absorbed by the baffle. Baffles utilizing arrays of cube corner reflectors could potentially be used in space based infrared surveillance sensors to reduce cooling requirements.