
Gamma rays and x-rays may be reflected, too, although the nature of the "mirror" is different than for visible light. VHF reflection is used for radio transmission. Light reflection doesn't only happen within the visible spectrum but throughout the electromagnetic spectrum. Reflections occur in several types of waves. Conjugate reflectors may be used to remove aberrations by reflecting a beam and passing the reflection back through the aberrating optics. The tapetum lucidum in some animal eyes acts as a retroreflector (e.g., in cats), improving their night vision.Ĭomplex Conjugate Reflection or Phase ConjugationĬomplex conjugate reflection occurs when light reflects back exactly in the direction from whence it came (as in retroreflection), but both the wavefront and the direction are reversed. The third mirror makes in an inverse of the image from the second mirror, returning it to its original configuration. The second mirror produces an image that is the inverse of the first. A simple way to make a retroreflector is to form a corner reflector, with three mirrors faced mutually perpendicular to each other. In retroreflection, light returns in the direction from whence it came. In reality, images aren't truly infinite because tiny imperfections in the mirror surface eventually propagate and extinguish the image. If a square is formed with four mirrors face to face, the infinite images appear to be arranged within a plane.

If two mirrors are placed facing each other and parallel to each other, infinite images are formed along the straight line. In diffuse reflection, light is scattered in multiple directions because of tiny irregularities in the surface of the medium.

Waves can also strike non-shiny surfaces, which produce diffuse reflections. Specular reflection from curved surfaces may be magnified or demagnified, depending on whether the surface is spherical or parabolic. Specular reflection from a flat surface forms mirror mages, which appear to be reversed from left to right. The law of reflection works for specular surfaces, which means surfaces which are shiny or mirror-like.
