A wide bandpass for multilayer mirrors can be obtained by gradually changin
g their period. In this pager the theory of such optical elements is develo
ped on the basis of the general theory of wave propagation through layered
medium. The results of reflectivity calculation for broadband mirrors are p
resented. The suggested theory is a natural step to the inverse problem - d
esign of multilayers with the required wavelength dependence of reflectivit
y. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.