A plurality of fiber optic cables are bundled into a two dimensional output array which "writes" multiple data tracks onto a recording surface during a single pass of the array. The geometry of the array provides that the data tracks may be spaced at fine intervals when written onto the recording surface without requiring that the fibers of the output array have a correspondingly fine separation. The reduction in the pitch of the written tracks is achieved by staggering multiple rows of equally spaced optical fibers. To build a two dimensional array having relatively equal spacing of fibers, a spacing fixture is used, or, alternatively, the diameter and shape of the fiber cladding itself can be used.

A flexible light conduit which preserves the coherence of a transmitted beam. Several conduit elements having optical elements mounted inside each one are connected together to form a chain. Each conduit element is tiltably coupled to each adjacent conduit element in the chain. The optical elements may be refractive or reflective. The conduit preserves the spatial coherence properties of the beam so the input image is reimaged at a distant place, having passed through the series of relay optical elements through the angles permitted by the coupling members.

A photonic television system for propagating an image of light, in the form of its original three dimensional photonic makeup, through an airless, light proof, wave guide structure, utilizing a unique system of plastic concave and convex lenses in tandem, whose physical spacing is preferably one focal length from each other, which results in the photons of the image to be continually expanding and contracting, as they automatically propagate through each lens to the end of the wave guide, where via conventional magnifying lenses, the three dimensional image can be seen by a viewer, in a manner similar when viewing a microscope or telescope.

A spectrmeter radiation transmission system is disclosed which permits concurrent availability of numerous alternative accessory devices by conserving radiation throughput. Parabolic reflectors are used to provide alternating collimated and confocal segments of radiation, thereby largely eliminating the problem of vignetting (i.e., loss of radiation throughput due to beam size expansion). Modular enclosure elements are provided, inside which the radiation path travels between the parabolic reflectors.

A high temperature light scattering measurement device for characterizing certain physical properties of molecules is described. In one embodiment the device includes a sample scattering chamber having at least one detector positioned about the chamber so as to collect light scattered by the molecules to be characterized located within the sample chamber. The sample scattering chamber, detectors and associated optics are located within an oven to maintain the scattering chamber at an elevated temperature. Light to be scattered by molecules in the sample scattering chamber is provided by a laser located outside the oven. Light from the laser is directed along an optical path through the oven wall where it is then focussed by optical elements on the sample chamber.