This book covers the entire process of manufacturing of optical components and systems. It offers a comprehensive and extensive insight into the methods, principles, and underlying mechanisms/considerations of glass machining, optical fabrication, and design of optics.

1. Introduction 2. Basics of Light Propagation 3. Optical Materials 4. Optical Components 5. Design of Optical Components 6. Tolerancing of Optical Components and Systems 7. Shape Forming 8. Polishing 9. Cementing 10. Centering 11. Coating 12. Assembly of Optomechanical Systems 13. Microoptics 14. Cleaning

After his apprenticeship and subsequent 2-years occupation as skilled engineering worker in precision optics, Dr. Gerhard studied Optical Precision Manufacturing Technology at the University of Applied Sciences in Göttingen, Germany. In 2006, he prepared his diploma thesis on the development of novel short-pulse laser sources for materials processing applications at the Institute of Optics in Orsay, France. For the results of this work, he received the Georg-Simon-Ohm Award from the German Physical Society in 2009.

After working in industry as product manager for optics for 3 years, he started working on the scientific investigation of laser-based materials processing at the University of Bremen in 2009. In addition, he extra-occupationally studied Optical Engineering and Photonics and received his master's degree in 2010. Dr. Gerhard then worked as scientific coordinator of the Lower Saxony Innovation Network for Plasma Technology in Göttingen and Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany. In the course of this function, he investigated novel hybrid plasma-assisted laser processing techniques for the machining of optical glasses.

Based on this research, he received his doctor's degree in Natural Sciences and Physical Technologies from Clausthal University of Technology in 2014. In 2015, his doctoral thesis was awarded the Young Talent Award Green Photonics by the Fraunhofer Society. He currently works as scientist at the Fraunhofer Application Center for Plasma and Photonics in Göttingen, Germany. In addition, he is assistant professor and guest lecturer for optical system design, optical manufacturing, photonics and laser processing at different German universities.

Dr. Christoph Gerhard is member of the German Physical Society and the German Society for Plasma Technology. He authored and co-authored 27 original research papers and is the chief editor of a textbook on laser ablation. He further authored two textbooks on principles of optics and plasma-assisted laser ablation.