Integrating optical system and methods

A method of fabricating an integrating optical system, comprising:

• providing at least one chamber having at least one aperture and at least one portion comprising a diffuse reflective material;
• providing at least one light source disposed outside of the at least one chamber and oriented to provide light rays into the at least one chamber through the aperture;
• and
• providing at least one diffuse transmissive baffle disposed in relation to the at least one chamber and the aperture such that all light rays from the at least one light source entering the at least one chamber pass through the aperture and the at least one diffuse transmissive baffle and the at least one diffuse transmissive baffle is also disposed in an optical path between the at least one light source and at least one treatable target, wherein the at least one diffuse transmissive baffle is disposed in a manner wherein at least one light-ray originating from the at least one light source is diffusely transmittable from the at least one diffuse transmissive baffle and impingeable on an interior surface of the at least one chamber before being impingeable on the at least one treatable target, wherein the interior surface comprises the diffuse reflective material, and wherein at least one light-ray originating from the at least one light source is diffusely transmitted from the at least one diffuse transmissive baffle and impinges directly on the at least one treatable target without first impinging of the interior surface of the at least one chamber;
• wherein a distance between the at least one diffuse transmissive baffle and the at least one treatable target is such that less than 15% of light rays transmitting through the at least one diffuse transmissive baffle impinge directly on the at least one treatable target, and such that more than 85% of the light rays transmitting through the at least one diffuse transmissive baffle impinge directly on the interior surface before impinging on the at least one treatable target;
• wherein the diffuse reflective material is configured to scatter the at least one light ray substantially uniformly into all directions in a hemisphere on an incident side of the diffuse reflective material;
• wherein the at least one light source comprises at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a microwave-excited arc lamp, a medium pressure arc lamp, a high pressure arc lamp, a light emitting diode, and a laser;
• wherein the at least one light source is configured to output light rays having a non-visible component suitable to treat the at least one treatable target;
• and
• wherein the at least one treatable target comprises a material which at least one property thereof is altered by the light rays from the at least one light source.

A method of treating at least one treatable target with light, comprising:

• providing light, having light rays, within a volume from at least one light source disposed outside of at least one chamber and oriented to provide the light rays into the at least one chamber through an aperture, wherein all of the light rays entering the at least one chamber pass through the aperture and at least one diffuse transmissive baffle;
• diffusely transmitting, using the at least one diffuse transmissive baffle, the all of the light rays entering the at least one chamber such that at least one first light-ray originating from the at least one light source and being in a direct path to the at least one treatable target is diffusely transmitted from the at least one diffuse transmissive baffle and impinges on an interior surface of at least one chamber before impinging on the at least one treatable target, and such that at least one second light-ray originating from the at least one light source is diffusely transmitted from the at least one diffuse transmissive baffle and impinges directly on the at least one treatable target without first impinging of the interior surface of the at least one chamber;
• wherein a distance between the at least one diffuse transmissive baffle and the at least one treatable target is such that less than 15% of light rays transmitting through the at least one diffuse transmissive baffle impinge directly on the at least one treatable target, and such that more than 85% of the light rays transmitting through the at least one diffuse transmissive baffle impinge directly on the interior surface before impinging on the at least one treatable target;
• diffusely reflecting, at the interior surface, the at least one first light-ray within the volume from a diffuse reflective material by scattering the at least one first light-ray substantially uniformly in all directions in a hemisphere adjacent to an incident surface of the diffuse reflective material for collecting the at least one first light-ray, thereby integrating the at least one first light-ray, and thereby providing at least one integrated first light-ray;
• and
• irradiating the at least one treatable target with the at least one integrated first light-ray and the at least one second light ray, thereby providing at least one treated target;
• wherein the at least one light source comprises at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a microwave-excited arc lamp, a medium pressure arc lamp, a high pressure arc lamp, a light emitting diode, and a laser;
• wherein the at least one light source is configured to output light rays having a non-visible component suitable to treat the at least one treatable target;
• and
• wherein the at least one treatable target comprises a material which at least one property thereof is altered by the light rays from the at least one light source.