Concentrating and collecting optical system using concave toroidal reflectors

A system for condensing, concentrating and collecting electromagnetic radiation to provide a high intensity illumination source having as much radiation flux as possible in a small area, said system comprising:

• a first primary electromagnetic radiation reflector having a first primary optical axis and a first substantially toroidal concave reflecting surface defined by a first radius of curvature in a first plane and a second radius of curvature in a second plane orthogonal to said first plane, said first radius of curvature and said second radius of curvature of said first primary reflector being unequal;
• a source of electromagnetic radiation having an extent and located near a center of curvature of said first primary reflector but laterally offset in said first plane by a first, off-axis distance from the first primary optical axis so as to produce a substantially focused image of said source, upon reflection from said first primary reflector, at a first image point laterally offset in said first plane from said first primary optical axis by a second, off-axis distance, wherein the ratio of the square of said first, off-axis distance to the first radius of curvature of said first primary reflector is equal to or less than the extent of the source;
• and
• a target located near a point of maximized collectable flux density, the location of said point of maximized collectable flux density being a function of the first and second radii of curvature of said first primary reflector.

A system for condensing, concentrating, and collecting light to provide a high intensity light source for illumination having as much radiation flux as possible in a small area, said system comprising:

• a primary electromagnetic radiation reflector having an optical axis and a portion of a substantially toroidal reflecting surface defined by a first radius of curvature in a first plane and a second radius of curvature in a second plane orthogonal to said first plane, said first radius of curvature and said second radius of curvature being unequal;
• a light source having an extent and providing divergent, broadband, incoherent light, said source being surrounded by an envelope and being located near a center of curvature of said reflector but laterally offset in said first plane by a first, off-axis distance from the optical axis of said reflector so as to produce a substantially focused image of said source, upon reflection from said reflector, at an image point laterally offset in said first plane from said optical axis by a second, off-axis distance, wherein the ratio of the square of said first, off-axis distance to the first radius of curvature of said primary reflector is equal to or less than the extent of the source;
• and,
• an optical fiber target having a longitudinal axis and a collection end located near a point of maximum collectable flux density, the location of said maximum collectable flux density being a function of the first and second radii of curvature of said primary reflector.