Optical system with at least one aligned optical cell and associated method

An optical system comprising:

• a base having a groove and an adjacent slot therein, the groove having tapered sidewalls and the slot extending parallel to the groove;
• at least one optical cell slidably alignable along the groove;
• and
• at least one clamp comprising
• a lower end and an upper end, the lower end being slidably alignable along the slot and secured at a set location so that the upper end secures the at least one optical cell along the groove, and
• at least one preloaded fastener arrangement securing the lower end of the clamp to the base.

A method for making an optical system comprising:

• forming a base having a groove and an adjacent slot therein;
• slidably aligning at least one optical cell along the groove;
• and
• slidably aligning a lower end of at least one clamp along the slot to a set location and using an upper end of the at least one clamp to secure the at least one optical cell along the groove.