Review of Diffraction Effect Mechanisms and Processing Methods with Respect to Improving the Reflection Efficiency of Reflector Surfaces

An optical reflector is an important part of an optical system, and its main function is to reflect light and adjust the light path. In the past decades, it has been widely used in imaging, laser systems, communication and scientific research. Therefore, it is opportune to present a comprehensive review and discuss future development directions. This paper systematically reviews the types of optical reflectors, the differences between diffraction and scattering, and the different uses of reflectors. The factors affecting reflectivity, including reflector quality, coating parameters and material properties, are also introduced. This paper also introduces practical technology to improve reflectivity on the reflector surface. Finally, the development prospects of numerical simulations of reflectivity are introduced, and the methods to eliminate diffraction effects are summarized.