What does this research mean for the field?

The optical Far Field Diffraction Pattern test procedure for cube corner laser retroreflectors (CCRs) is validated for space applications under controlled air and isothermal conditions. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONFIRMATORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.SUPPORTS_CONSENSUS.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To establish a standard procedure for testing the optical performance of laser retroreflectors under specific conditions.

March 5, 2026Open Access

Optical Far Field Diffraction Pattern Test of Laser Retroreflectors for Space Applications in Air and Isothermal Conditions at INFN-LNF

Key Points

To establish a standard procedure for testing the optical performance of laser retroreflectors under specific conditions.
Developed testing procedure for optical Far Field Diffraction Pattern (FFDP) for CCRs in air and isothermal conditions.
Utilized prototype GLONASS CCRs and GPS-2 flight model CCRs for validation between 2007-2008.
Performed cross-checking of FFDP measurements using CodeV and two other independent software programs.
Validated FFDP testing procedure with very good agreement among simulations from different software.
Reported test results of GLONASS CCR and LAGEOS Sector retroreflectors, indicating effective optical performance.
LAGEOS Sector tested with uncoated fused silica retroreflectors, demonstrating reliability for future space applications.

Abstract

We describe the INFN-LNF standard procedure for the optical Far Field Diffraction Pattern (FFDP) test of cube corner laser retroreflectors (CCRs) for space applications, when these CCRs are in air and in isothermal conditions around (22 ± 2)°C. This procedure was developed in 2007 and 2008, using prototype GLONASS CCRs lent to LNF by IPIE of Moscow and a GPS-2 flight model CCR array lent to LNF by the University of Maryland at College Park (all using Al-coated fused silica retroreflectors of 27 mm diameter). This was done in the context of the INFN experiment ETRUSCO2. The modeling of FFDP measurements is performed with a commercial software, CodeV by O.R.A. Inc., and it has been cross-checked against two independent software programs developed by other two members of the ILRS �??Signal Processing Working Group�?�, D. Arnold and T. Otsubo, finding very good agreement among the three. In summer 2008 this procedure has been validated by performing the FFDP test of the LAGEOS �??Sector�?�, an engineering prototype on loan from NASA-GSFC, equipped with 37 uncoated, fused silica retroreflectors of 38 mm diameter. We report test results for the GLONASS and LAGEOS CCRs. Details of the test procedure and CodeV simulations are given for the particular case of the LAGEOS Sector.

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