Editing Retroreflector (section)

{{Short description|Device to reflect radiation back to its source}}
{{Redirect|Retro-reflection|the art project|Retro-reflection (art project)}}
{{Infobox laboratory equipment
| name = Retroreflector
| image = Corner-Cube.jpg
| alt = <!-- See Wikipedia:Alternative text for images -->
| caption = A gold corner cube retroreflector
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| uses = Distance measurement by optical delay line
<br />High-visibility markings in low-light conditions
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}}
A '''retroreflector''' (sometimes called a '''retroflector''' or '''cataphote''') is a device or surface that reflects [[light]] or other radiation back to its source with minimum [[scattering]]. This works at a wide range of [[angle of incidence (optics)|angle of incidence]], unlike a planar [[mirror]], which does this only if the mirror is exactly perpendicular to the wave front, having a zero angle of incidence. Being directed, the retroflector's [[reflection (physics)|reflection]] is brighter than that of a [[diffuse reflector]]. [[Corner reflector]]s and [[Cat's eye (road)|cat's eye]] reflectors are the most used kinds.