Investigation of multiple Bragg reflections and their possible exploitation

This paper summarizes recent results of an exhaustive experimental study of multiple Bragg reflections accompanying allowed as well as forbidden reflections. The multiple reflection observations were carried out in the frame of Bragg diffraction optics experiments on cylindrically bent perfect single crystals. It has been found that depending on the thickness and curvature of the crystal slabs and the diffraction geometry (reflection, transmission), many strong multiple reflections can be excited which can also be used as a source of highly monochromatic and highly collimated beams for further experiments requiring extremely high resolution.