Feature issue introduction: shaping and patterning crystals for optics

Abstract

Shaping and patterning of bulk or thin layer crystals and ceramics are one of the new frontiers in the field of laser and nonlinear optics. These technical aspects are rarely published, but they are crucial for the fundamental studies as well as for technology and applications. This special issue features 15 articles that focus on the orienting, cutting, polishing, coating, bonding, writing guides, or poling crystals and ceramics for bulk-or micro-optics. We have here a corpus of contributions describing the techniques as well as the gain they bring in terms of functionality or performance of the fabricated components devoted to optics and photonics.