Abstract: A vibration damped apparatus comprising a damping mass which is mechanically coupled to a member subject to vibration. The damping mass is formed from a elastic material throughout which a plurality of sub-masses are distributed. The sub-masses are relatively positioned so that the damping mass has different moduli of elasticity in tension and compression, so as to quickly dampen a broad frequency range of vibrations in the vibrating member. In a preferred embodiment, the vibrating member is a tubular post upon which vibration-sensitive optical components are mounted, the damping mass being disposed within a cavity in the post to damp vibrations of the post and optical components thereon.

Abstract: A device for shaping a beam of light comprising a single anamorphic prism having an input face for receiving a beam of light, and an output face for outputting the beam of light. A reflecting face reflects light from the input face to the output face. The faces are oriented to cause the beam exiting the output face to be substantially parallel to the beam entering the input face. The prism is sized to provide colinearity of the input and output light.