Abstract
Total reflection of x rays is considered by expanding the Fresnel coefficient in the grazing angle of incidence, assumed to be much less than the critical angle. A study is made of resonatorlike mirror systems that are capable of changing the direction of the incoming wave by 2π rad. The possibility of modulating the refractive index n=1−δ−iβ and the influence of scattering losses are briefly discussed. A high number of successive reflections may lead to a nonzero limit exp(−π√2 βδ−3/2) for the relative intensity. It is usually more important to have a ’’horizontal’’ reflectivity curve than a high critical angle.