Rereflected

Rereflected is a term used to describe something that has undergone a reflection again, or the result of a second reflection in a system where waves, rays, or signals bounce off surfaces more than once. The word is informal in most technical domains, serving as a descriptive label rather than a formal synonym for established terms such as secondary reflection or multipath.

In optics, rereflected light refers to rays that, after an initial reflection, encounter another reflective surface and reflect anew. This can produce ghost images, stray light, or interference effects in imaging systems. Rereflection is a consideration in camera design, lens coatings, and optical instrumentation where multiple bounces can degrade or alter the final signal.

In acoustics, rereflected sound waves are echoes or late-arriving reflections that arrive after the direct sound and primary reflections. These rereflections shape reverberation and clarity in rooms and auditoria, influencing acoustic design and sound reinforcement strategies.

In communication and radar, rereflection describes signals that have taken multiple paths, reflecting off several surfaces before returning to the receiver. Such multipath rereflections can cause constructive or destructive interference, fading, and timing delays, affecting signal integrity and interpretation.

In computer graphics, the concept appears in recursive reflection models where a ray reflects off a surface and then off another, producing secondary or tertiary reflections. This underpins more realistic rendering of shiny or translucent objects.

Overall, rereflected is a practical, descriptive term across disciplines for the phenomenon of a reflection occurring more than once, often with notable implications for measurement, perception, and analysis. See also reflection, multipath, ghosting.