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Colorless gradient-index cylindrical lenses with high numerical apertures in slabs 200-1000 µm thick have been fabricated by silver-sodium ion exchange in a specially developed glass. The lenses with numerical apertures of 0.6 are characterized by index profiles and by spherical and chromatic aberration. On-axis focusing properties and the application to the collimation of high-power laser diode bars are discussed.

The utilization of micro-optical components in systems for optical-beam deflection and modulation offers the possibility for realization of miniaturized switches and scanners. As the required displacement of the micro-optical components for efficient beam manipulation is quite small, high speed actuators with small electrical power consumption can be used. We present a variety of micro-optical configurations and discuss their potential for the creation of different types of miniaturized scanners and switches. The combination of micro-optical components already available and semiclassical piezoelectric actuators leads to new types of switching and modulation systems for a very broad spectrum of applications

High power diode lasers (HPDL) have become very attractive as an intelligent tool for direct material processing as well as pump sources for miniaturized solid state lasers and fiber lasers since optical beam transformation systems generate the required beam circularization from the originally highly asymmetric brightness of the output beam. This presentation focuses on reliable microassembling processes to realize micro-optical beam transformation systems for high power diode laser bars and stacks for the efficient coupling of the beam into optical fibers at reasonable costs. The modular semi automatic micro assembly set up realized consists of a six axes alignment system with an accuracy in the submicron range for the three spatial axes as well as microrad for the three rotational axes, a semi-automatic glue dispenser as well as respective grippers and magazines which are necessary for the handling of the micro optical components. The established automation processes for the mounting of the fast axis collimation (FAC) lenses are of particular interest for the assembly of e.g. fiber coupled modules of diode laser stacks whereas more than 20 fast-axis collimations are necessary.

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