Design of narrow band XUV and EUV coronagraphs using multilayer optics

A novel approach to the study of the solar corona is described, which enables observation of the soft X-ray (XUV), EUV, and FUV emission of the highly ionized ions present in the corona. The principal advantage of this approach is a relatively low contrast between the innner corona and the solar disk at the wavelengths involved; the contrast between coronal visible light and the XUV or EUV light is about 1. The design and the anticipated performances of the XUV and EUV coronagraphs using normal incidence multilayer optics are described.