Light distribution system

A method for multiplexed optical detection includes: imaging light onto an input face of a first optical fiber, wherein the first optical fiber is a multimode optical fiber; inducing coupling among the propagation modes of the light in the first optical fiber; coupling an output face of the first optical fiber to input faces of multiple individual second optical fibers in a multi-fiber bundle, wherein each output face of the individual fibers emits substantially similar light; and detecting one or more properties of one or more fluids, including analytes that may be present, with the light emitted from at least one of the second optical fibers. The second optical fibers can be a part of an optical detector that is part of a high performance liquid chromatography system, which can be located in a substrate.