Growth of alexandrite crystals and investigation of their properties

Relationship between the crystallographic orientation and the ‘alexandrite effect’ in synthetic alexandrite

“…Synthetic alexandrite, grown by a variety of methods, is an important laser material and is more readily available. This is why, in this study, we used a sample of synthetic alexandrite grown from a melt of stoichiometric composition by the Czochralski technique (Bukin et al, 1981). This sample was polished in the form of a cube, with each surface perpendicular to a crystallographic axis (Fig.…”

Specific character of melt growth of low-temperature phase of aluminum beryllate

“…Some details of synthesis procedures were described elsewhere [2,9]. To grow crystals by the Czochralski method, we used standard equipment with induction heating, iridium crucibles, and argon protective atmosphere [2,8]. Growth of crystals by the HOC method was carried out on specially devised equipment with a resistive tungsten heater in boat-type molybdenum containers and high-purity argon atmosphere [9].…”

“…Powder of Cr 2 O 3 or V 2 O 3 oxide of the same purity was used as an admixture doping the crystalline matrix of a-ABO. Some details of synthesis procedures were described elsewhere [2,9]. To grow crystals by the Czochralski method, we used standard equipment with induction heating, iridium crucibles, and argon protective atmosphere [2,8].…”

“…Undertaken by many researchers, these attempts were prompted by remarkable properties of a-ABO. Suffice it to note that Cr-bearing chrysoberyl, known as alexandrite, is a very rare gemstone with unique color properties [2] and, at the same time, are a wonderful material for tunable laser devices [2,3].…”

“…But only the Czochralski crystal-growth technique [2,8] and horizontally oriented crystallization (HOC) [9] yielded crystals of the size and quality appropriate for practical use. The task solution of growing big monocrystals revealed some important features of seeding and growing a-ABO crystals, including those governed by the equipment, thermal field, temperature and time conditions of melt preparation for crystallization, doping, etc.…”