Abstract: An improved optical rotary joint is achieved by transmitting information in the form of an optical signal from a part of the de-spun portion outside the rotational axis to the spun portion, or vice versa, thereby creating a continuous communication path 360.degree. about the rotational axis. The optical rotary joint includes either a plurality of transmitters on one portion and a detector on the other portion, or a transmitter on one portion and a plurality of detectors on the other portion. In the former, the transmitters are controlled such that only the transmitters transmitting optical signals that will be detected by the detector at a given point in the rotation are activated and the remaining transmitters are deactivated. In the latter, the detectors are controlled such that only the detectors detecting the optical signal transmitter by the transmitter at a given point in the rotation are activated and the remaining detectors are deactivated.

Abstract: An improved optical rotary joint is achieved by transmitting information in the form of an optical signal from a part of the de-spun portion outside the rotational axis to create on the spun portion, or vice versa, 360.degree. about the rotational axis, a continuous communication path having a configuration described by a series of overlapping elliptical areas. The detection area on the spun portion is less than that of the detection path thereby providing continuous optical communication with the transmitted optical signal.

Abstract: An improved laser pumping system is provided which utilizes optic fibers configured in a fan-in arrangement and an array of light emitting diodes or diode lasers to which the optic fibers are connected for concentrating light energy on a lasing medium. The improvement is an increase of the amount of light energy that can be applied to the laser within a fixed volume.