The influence of a magnetic field on the mosaic spread and growth rate of small Rochelle salt crystals

Abstract

The growth rates of small (length <1 mm) crystals of Rochelle salt grown with and without a magnetic field have been measured at constant supersaturation (4%). It has been shown that some crystals grown in the presence of a magnetic field exhibit a decrease in the linear growth rate in the [010] direction relative to that shown under normal conditions. It was further noticed that a few crystals of the total number showed slight increases in growth rate. The fact that a majority of crystals showed a decrease in growth rate has given rise to speculations that this should be caused by an increase of strain (mosaic spread), resulting from a change of the mode of incorporation of the growth units into the crystal surface brought about by the applied magnetic field. The results show that most of crystals grown in the magnetic field have a higher mosaic spread and lower growth rate than observed during growth without an applied field. An increase in growth rate in the presence of the magnetic field, observed for a few crystals, might be explained by the relaxation of this strain by formation of dislocations, which in turn enhance the growth rate.