A light scanning apparatus includes a light source, a deflector configured to deflect a light flux from the light source, and an imaging optical system configured to guide the light flux deflected at the deflector onto a scanned surface. The imaging optical system consists of a single imaging optical element, wherein, on the optical axis of the imaging optical system, the conditions 0.15T2/Sk0.3 and 0.03d/K0.08 are satisfied. A condition 0.3B0.6 is satisfied at a condensing position Y where a scanning angle is greatest, when the condensing position Y in the main scanning direction on the scanned surface of the light flux deflected at the scanning angle by the deflector is expressed by Y=(K/B)tan(B).

The present invention relates to an apparatus and to a corresponding method for reading out X-ray information stored in a storage phosphor layer (1) comprising a light source (2) for generating a stimulation light beam (3) which can stimulate the storage phosphor layer (1) to emit emission light, and a deflection element (4) for deflecting the stimulation light beam (3) in such a way that the deflected stimulation light beam (3) is moved over the storage phosphor layer (1). In order to achieve the highest possible quality of the X-ray image obtained in the simplest and most cost-effective way possible, a drive device (5) is provided for driving the deflection element (4) by delivering drive energy to the deflection element (4) dependently upon a location of the deflected stimulation light beam (3) and/or dependently upon a position, in particular an angular position, of the deflection element (4).

An optical scanning apparatus includes a light source having five or more light-emitting portions arrayed in a row, a cylindrical lens, a restricting portion, a polygon mirror, and a plurality of scanning lenses. A plurality of such light sources are provided and each emit light beams. The restricting portion has a plurality of first apertures that restrict the optical path width of the light beams along the sub scanning direction. The first apertures have first openings respectively that penetrate them along the optical axis direction and let the light beams pass through them. The centers of the first openings along the sub scanning direction are disposed displaced along the sub scanning direction.