Preparation of neodymium-substituted LaB6 single crystals by the floating zone method

Abstract

Abstract Single crystals of La 1- x Nd x B 6 were prepared in the composition range below x =0.3 by the r.f.-heating floating zone method. The crystals were free of subgrain boundaries in the range above x =0.15. Boundary-free crystals with a composition x =0.15 were automatically prepared by a computerized control system. The distribution coefficient, the etching pattern and the lattice constant were examined and compared with those of other pseudobinary rare earth hexaborides based on LaB 6 with CeB 6 , PrB 6 , SmB 6 or GdB 6 .