Currently a stainless steed rectangularly shaped support is used for holding a hollow core fiber (HC PCF) used in generation of broadband radiation upon receiving laser radiation. It has been observed that the heat load from the fiber towards the support is asymmetric and causes the support to haul (due to temperature gradient across the support) and compromises alignment of the laser radiation towards the fiber. This document describes a design of the support which is such that an asymmetric thermal path is created that counteracts the asymmetric heat load; e.g. the thermally induced downwards bending is counteracted by a member that exerts an upward bend upon being subject to the thermal load. In an example the inventors constructed a two-member support in which the thermal resistances of the members and their relative positioning are designed such that upon thermal load from the fiber no bending (in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the fiber) takes place; e.g. equilibrium of downward and upward bending forces it created on the first member holding the fiber. In summary a support it designed comprising a first member to hold an elongated optical element exchanging heat to said support and a second member attached to said first member, wherein an orientation with respect to the first member, and a thermal resistance of the second member is configured to establish an equilibrium of bending forces on said first member upon thermal load from said elongated optical element without significant deformation of the first member.
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