Single crystal growth of pure and Nd-doped Y 2O 3 by floating zone method with Xe arc lamp imaging furnace

Abstract

Single crystals of undoped and Nd-doped yttrium oxide were grown by the floating zone method with a Xe arc lamp imaging furnace. The crystals were grown in the 〈100〉 and 〈111〉directions. Transparent and subgrain-free single crystals were obtained at a growth rate of 30–60 mm/h for the undoped yttrium oxide. Facets of the cubic {100} and {211} were observed though the high temperature phase of the crystal is hexagonal. Dislocation densities of undoped yttrium oxide were 2 × 10 4-10 5 cm -2 for the crystals grown in the 〈100〉 direction, and 10 5-5 × 10 5 cm -2 for the crystals grown in the 〈111〉 direction.