Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for co-aligning laterally displaced radiation beams from respective radiation source outputs, each beam comprising a number of spectral components. The apparatus comprises a collimating element for receiving each of said radiation beams with respective lateral displacements and a combining element for receiving each of said radiation beams passed by said collimating element for co-aligning the radiation beams. The apparatus further comprises a diffraction assembly disposed in an optical path between the output of at least one radiation source and the collimating element, for spatially separating the radiation beam output by said at least one radiation source into the constituent spectral components of radiation prior to passing the radiation to the collimating element.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for co-aligning laterally displaced radiation beams from respective radiation source outputs, each beam comprising a number of spectral components. The apparatus comprises a collimating element for receiving each of said radiation beams with respective lateral displacements and a combining element for receiving each of said radiation beams passed by said collimating element for co-aligning the radiation beams. The apparatus further comprises a diffraction assembly disposed in an optical path between the output of at least one radiation source and the collimating element, for spatially separating the radiation beam output by said at least one radiation source into the constituent spectral components of radiation prior to passing the radiation to the collimating element.

Abstract: An optical surface roughness measurement-enabling arrangement and method are disclosed for enabling measurement of the surface roughness of a material. The arrangement comprises an optical radiation source for generating a beam of collimated radiation along a first axis for illuminating the surface of the material with the radiation directed along the first axis, a refractive optical element optically alignable with the beam of radiation for refracting the beam along a second axis which is non-parallel with the first axis, for illuminating the surface of the material with the radiation directed along the second axis and a detector which is arranged to detect the radiation, incident upon the surface along the first axis and second axis, which becomes reflected off the surface of the material. An optical surface roughness measuring arrangement and method are also disclosed for providing a measurement value of the surface roughness.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for co-aligning a number of laterally displaced radiation beams from respective radiation source outputs, each beam having a respective waveband. The apparatus comprises a collimating element for receiving each of said radiation beams with respective lateral displacements and a combining element for receiving each of said radiation beams passed by said collimating element. The apparatus further comprises a radiation source mount for positioning the radiation source outputs relative to the collimating element. The method comprises longitudinally positioning the radiation source outputs upon the mount, relative to the collimating element, in dependence upon the waveband of each beam, to cause the radiation beams passed by the combining element to be co-aligned.

Abstract: An optical surface roughness measurement-enabling arrangement and method are disclosed for enabling measurement of the surface roughness of a material. The arrangement comprises an optical radiation source for generating a beam of collimated radiation along a first axis for illuminating the surface of the material with the radiation directed along the first axis, a refractive optical element optically alignable with the beam of radiation for refracting the beam along a second axis which is non-parallel with the first axis, for illuminating the surface of the material with the radiation directed along the second axis and a detector which is arranged to detect the radiation, incident upon the surface along the first axis and second axis, which becomes reflected off the surface of the material. An optical surface roughness measuring arrangement and method are also disclosed for providing a measurement value of the surface roughness.

Abstract: Apparatus for co-aligning a plurality of laterally displaced radiation beams, each beam comprising a respective waveband, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a collimating element for receiving each of said radiation beams with respective lateral displacements and a combining element for receiving each of said radiation beams passed by said collimating element to cause the radiation beams to become co-aligned. At least one of the collimating element and the combining element comprises an anti-reflection layer for minimising reflection of the radiation beams from the at least one element. The layer comprises an array of microstructured protuberances which extend away from at least a portion of a surface of the respective element, and which comprise a cross-sectional area which reduces along the length thereof, from a proximal end of the protuberance disposed proximate the surface to a distal end of the protuberance.

Abstract: A method of combining and co-aligning a plurality of radiation beams each having a respective waveband, includes the steps of passing each of said radiation beams to a respective lateral deflector to impart a selected lateral displacement to said beam. Each of said radiation beams with respective imparted lateral displacements is then passed to an optical collimating element which passes said radiation beams to an optical deflecting element which applies a wavelength dependent deflection to the radiation beams. The respective lateral displacements are selected having regard to the waveband of each beam to cause all to exit the optical deflecting element at the same angle so they are co-aligned.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for co-aligning a number of laterally displaced radiation beams from respective radiation source outputs, each beam having a respective waveband. The apparatus comprises a collimating element for receiving each of said radiation beams with respective lateral displacements and a combining element for receiving each of said radiation beams passed by said collimating element. The apparatus further comprises a radiation source mount for positioning the radiation source outputs relative to the collimating element. The method comprises longitudinally positioning the radiation source outputs upon the mount, relative to the collimating element, in dependence upon the waveband of each beam, to cause the radiation beams passed by the combining element to be co-aligned.

Abstract: A method of combining and co-aligning a plurality of radiation beams each having a respective waveband, includes the steps of passing each of said radiation beams to a respective lateral deflector to impart a selected lateral displacement to said beam. Each of said radiation beams with respective imparted lateral displacements is then passed to an optical collimating element which passes said radiation beams to an optical deflecting element which applies a wavelength dependent deflection to the radiation beams. The respective lateral displacements are selected having regard to the waveband of each beam to cause all to exit the optical deflecting element at the same angle so they are co-aligned.

Abstract: A dazzler arrangement is disclosed in which the strength of the dazzle beam is modulated in accordance with the range of a target to be dazzled. A stray detection beam is transmitted alongside the dazzle beam to allow detection of a secondary object approaching or at the periphery of the dazzle beam, whereupon the dazzle beam is attenuated or inhibited.