An approximate analysis of the diffraction losses in corner reflectors

The fundamental mechanism of energy loss from a Gaussian beam scattered by the edge of a corner reflector is considered. An independent calculation is performed to estimate the relative losses for different polarizations with allowance for the Goos-Hanchen shift effect. For the angle of incidence $\alpha=\pi/4$, the relative energy losses by waves polarized along the reflector’s edge and normally to this direction are estimated at ($(W_\textbf{diff}/W_\textbf{inc})_E\simeq7.03(\lambda_0/a)$) and $(W_\textbf{diff}/W_\textbf{inc})_H\simeq3.82(\lambda_0/a)$, respectively, where $\lambda_0$ is the wavelength in free space and $a$ is the effective radius of the beam.