Abstract: Optical systems comprising apparatus and methods for redirecting and concentrating illumination from a source of illumination such as an arc lamp or optical fiber into a narrow line while conserving much of the useful energy of the light source. Light from the point source is optically directed into a collimated beam which is then optically focused in one axis into a substantially line shaped beam of illumination at the point of focus. At the point of focus an optical element exchanges the converging and collimated angles of the beam over a period approximately less than or equal to the width of the focused beam. The beam of light which is now collimated in the short axis of the focused beam and diverging in the long axis of the focused beam can be further focused or directed into a narrow line of light which can be used for projection, illumination scanning or by systems for wavelength conditioning wavelength.