Vertical Bridgman growth of calcium lithium niobium gallium garnet crystals

The growth of calcium lithium niobium gallium garnet (CLNGG) crystal has been carried out using platinum crucibles in a vertical Bridgman (VB) furnace with three resistance-heating zones. Transparent CLNGG crystals grown from the congruent melts with and without weight loss compensation are different in color and are 25mm in diameter and about 70mm in length. The phase identification of the sintered raw materials, grown crystals and white compound formed on the side surface of the grown crystal has been done using the powder X-ray diffraction method. The formation of the white compound is related to the {100} facet growth near the side surface. The naturally selected growth direction of the CLNGG crystal grown without a seed is near 〈111〉, which is in good agreement with the morphological importance analysis according to the BFDH law. The VB-grown CLNGG also shows a cleavable feature parallel to {110} face and no absorption peaks in the wavelength range of 1100-1600nm. The linear thermal-expansion coefficient of the CLNGG crystal along 〈111〉 direction is also reported and compared with that of CNGG, GGG and platinum crucible.