METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COUPLING LIGHT AND PRODUCING MAGNIFIED IMAGES

摘要

A method and system for condensing and collecting electromagnetic radiation comprised generally of a radiation source (1), a reflector (2) and a target (3) is disclosed. The reflector (2) has a reflecting surface for reflecting the radiation from the source (1) which is in the shape of a cut out portion of an ellipsoid. The reflector surface has a substantially ellipsoidal (10) curvature which is concave relative to both the target and the source (1), and which has a major axis (7), a minor axis (8), and a first and second focal points. The system of the present invention redirects radiation emitted from the source (1), located near the first focal point of the ellipsoid (10), to produce a magnified image of the source (1) at the target (3), located near the second focal point of the ellipsoid (10). To achieve this spot size magnification, the ellipsoidal reflector surface comprises a portion of an ellipsoid which lies between the major and minor axes of the ellipsoid. The method disclosed comprises producing a magnified image of the source at the target by redirecting magnification emitted from a source (1) with reflector (2) having a concave surface shaped substantially of an ellipsoid.