Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a specified amount of heat on a test specimen, a portion of a specimen, or multiple specimens, under space-like conditions. This system includes a vacuum chamber in which one or more test specimens are placed. This chamber is evacuated to the necessary vacuum. One or more external sources of high intensity light is used for providing the necessary temperature. One or more reflectors are used for concentrating the high intensity light. A fiber optic light guide is used for receiving concentrated light from the reflector. A port in the vacuum chamber wall is used so that the second end of the light guide can extend into the chamber so that light exiting the second end impinges on a selected area of the test specimen. A positioning apparatus is used for locating the second end of the light guide within the housing adjacent to vary the test specimen area subjected to the light.

Abstract: The solar simulator of the invention comprises a source of high intensity light simulating as closely as possible the spectral radiance of the sun directed through a flexible optic light guide into a chamber and pressure sealed through a chamber wall where this light is then directed on to a test specimen in a column or otherwise. The high intensity light is provided by one or more illuminating sources which can be positioned at the distal end or ends of the fiber optics or embedded within a fiber or liquid optic core.