Micro-optical components, namely lenses, ball lenses, lens arrays, mirrors, prisms, beam splitters, fiber optic arrays, collimators, collimator arrays for use in the field of fiber optics; micro-ball lenses and micro-lenses for use in the field of fiber optics; micro-optical assemblies, and fiber-optic assemblies for use in optical networks; micro-optic interferometers for use in the measurement of deviation of surface shape; distance measuring interferometers, namely laser heads, interferometers, processing electronics for use with the electronics board that processes electronic measurement signals generated by the photodetector; atmospheric insensitive distance measuring interferometers, namely laser heads, interferometers, processing electronics for use with the electronics board that processes electronic measurement signals generated by the photodetector; reticle critical dimension measuring equipment for use in fiber optic applications; in-process silicon wafer surface topography measuring equipment for us in fiber optic applications; optical storage heads and drives; surface metrology equipment for the measurement of magnetic rigid disk drive disks