Czochralski growth of rare-earth orthosilicates (Ln(2)SiO(5)).
01 January 1986
The Czochralski growth of crystals of the type Ln(2)SiO(5) has been evaluated. It was determined that La(2)SiO(5) and Ce(2)SiO(5) decompose when melted and therefore could not be grown. Crystals of Gd(2)SiO(5) and Y(2)SiO(5) doped with various rare-earth ions have been grown and a functional relationship for the distribution coefficients determined. The major difficulty encountered in the growth of Y(2)SiO(5) was facet formation on the growth interface whereas Gd(2)SiO(5) showed poor mechanical properties.