ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book demonstrates that the field of laser beam shaping is an enabler for increasing the stability, quality, and speed of laser-based processes. It covers entirely new areas as well as new applications, which include beam shaping using micro-optical elements for illumination in lithography work, through the use of shaped fiber optics, and the use of beam shaping for optical tweezers. The book focuses on the natural evolution of established lens array integrators over the past years and demonstrates the importance of hybridization of established techniques and the evolution of integrators as they began to take the form of monolithic wafer-based micro-optical elements. It finally provides the reader with an existing robotic example on a production floor to emphasize the concepts governing the application and to demonstrate the true nature of a product that incorporates laser beam shaping technology.
