A method of bonding at least one curved optical element to a substrate, the method comprising: applying a cover substrate over the at least one curved optical element and the surface of the substrate, the cover substrate comprising a window, electrostatically affixing the at least one curved optical element to a surface of the substrate by applying a voltage between the cover substrate and the substrate; and directing a laser beam into the at least one curved optical element, the laser beam passing through the window, wherein: a material of the at least one curved optical element has an optical element change temperature, wherein the optical element change temperature is a melting point of the curved optical element material if fabricated from a crystalline material, and a softening point of the curved optical element material if fabricated from an amorphous material; a material of the substrate has a substrate change temperature, wherein the substrate change temperature is a melting point of the substrate material if fabricated from a crystalline material and a softening point of the substrate material if fabricated from an amorphous material; the laser beam heats an interface between the at least one curved optical element and the substrate to a temperature that is higher than a lowest temperature of the optical element change temperature and the substrate change temperature, thereby forming a bond between the at least one curved optical element and the substrate at a bond area, and the laser beam has a fluence that does not modify the substrate at regions of the substrate that are outside of the at least one curved optical element; wherein the at least one curved optical element is a GRIN lens, a micro-lens or an optical fiber. applying a cover substrate over the at least one curved optical element and the surface of the substrate, the cover substrate comprising a window, electrostatically affixing the at least one curved optical element to a surface of the substrate by applying a voltage between the cover substrate and the substrate; and directing a laser beam into the at least one curved optical element, the laser beam passing through the window, wherein: a material of the at least one curved optical element has an optical element change temperature, wherein the optical element change temperature is a melting point of the curved optical element material if fabricated from a crystalline material, and a softening point of the curved optical element material if fabricated from an amorphous material; a material of the substrate has a substrate change temperature, wherein the substrate change temperature is a melting point of the substrate material if fabricated from a crystalline material and a softening point of the substrate material if fabricated from an amorphous material; the laser beam heats an interface between the at least one curved optical element and the substrate to a temperature that is higher than a lowest temperature of the optical element change temperature and the substrate change temperature, thereby forming a bond between the at least one curved optical element and the substrate at a bond area, and the laser beam has a fluence that does not modify the substrate at regions of the substrate that are outside of the at least one curved optical element; wherein the at least one curved optical element is a GRIN lens, a micro-lens or an optical fiber. a material of the at least one curved optical element has an optical element change temperature, wherein the optical element change temperature is a melting point of the curved optical element material if fabricated from a crystalline material, and a softening point of the curved optical element material if fabricated from an amorphous material; a material of the substrate has a substrate change temperature, wherein the substrate change temperature is a melting point of the substrate material if fabricated from a crystalline material and a softening point of the substrate material if fabricated from an amorphous material; the laser beam heats an interface between the at least one curved optical element and the substrate to a temperature that is higher than a lowest temperature of the optical element change temperature and the substrate change temperature, thereby forming a bond between the at least one curved optical element and the substrate at a bond area, and the laser beam has a fluence that does not modify the substrate at regions of the substrate that are outside of the at least one curved optical element; wherein the at least one curved optical element is a GRIN lens, a micro-lens or an optical fiber.