Abstract
The micro-pulling-down technique is a crystal growth method that has been mostly developed since 1992. The general scheme of the growth system is relatively simple: the melt (oxide, fluoride, metal) residing in a crucible is transported in downward through microcapillary channel(s) made in the bottom of the crucible. Two driving forces (capillary action and gravity) support the delivery of the melt to the liquid/solid growth interface formed under the crucible due to a properly established temperature gradient. Appropriate configuration of the crucible bottom allows for controlling of the crystal shape (fibers, rods, tubes, plates) and the dimensions of the crystals’ cross sections that range approximately from 0.1 to 10 mm. A great number of scientifically and industrially important optical crystal fibers have been successfully produced using this method.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
R.S. Feigelson, in Crystal Growth of Electronic Materials, E. Kaldis, Ed. (Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, 1985), p. 127.
T. Fukuda, P. Rudolph, S. Uda, Eds., Fiber Crystal Growth from the Melt (Springer-Verlag, New York, 2004).
D.H. Yoon, I. Yonenaga, T. Fukuda, N. Ohnishi, J. Cryst. Growth 142, 339 (1994).
A. Yoshikawa, M. Nikl, G. Boulon, T. Fukuda, Opt. Mater. 30, 6 (2007).
T. Fukuda, V.I. Chani, Eds., Shaped Crystals: Growth by Micro-Pulling-Down Technique (Springer-Verlag, New York, 2007).
V.I. Chani, A. Yoshikawa, Y. Kuwano, K. Hasegawa, T. Fukuda, J. Cryst. Growth 204, 155 (1999).
G. Boulon, A. Collombet, A. Brenier, M.-Th. Cohen-Adad, A. Yoshikawa, K. Lebbou, J.H. Lee, T. Fukuda, Adv. Funct. Mater. 4, 264 (2001).
A. Jouini, H. Sato, A. Yoshikawa, T. Fukuda, G. Boulon, K. Kato, E. Hanamura, J. Cryst. Growth 287, 313 (2006).
K. Lebbou, A. Yoshikawa, T. Fukuda, M.Th. Cohen-Adad, A. Brenier, G. Boulon, M. Ferriol, Mater. Res. Bull. 35, 1277 (2000).
A. Yoshikawa, H. Itagaki, T. Fukuda, K. Lebbou, A. El Hassouni, A. Brenier, C. Goutaudier, O. Tillement, G. Boulon, J. Cryst. Growth 247, 148 (2003).
M. Nikl, H. Ogino, A. Yoshikawa, E. Mihokova, J. Pejchal, A. Beitlerova, A. Novoselov, T. Fukuda, Chem. Phys. Lett. 410, 218 (2005).
M. Zhuravleva, A. Novoselov, A. Yoshikawa, J. Pejchal, M. Nikl, T. Fukuda, Opt. Mater. 30, 171 (2007).
J.H. Mun, A. Novoselov, A. Yoshikawa, G. Boulon, T. Fukuda, Mater. Res. Bull. 40, 1235 (2005).
A. Yoshikawa, K.J. Kim, K. Aoki, K. Kamada, F. Saito, J. Pejchal, N. Solovieva, M. Nikl, IEEE. Nucl. Trans. Sci. 55 (3), 1484 (2008).
A. Yoshikawa, T. Satonaga, K. Kamada, H. Sato, M. Nikl, N. Solovieva, T. Fukuda, J. Cryst. Growth 270, 427 (2004).
D.B. Gasson, J. Sci. Instrum. 42, 114 (1965).
K. Muto, K. Avazu, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 8, 1360 (1969).
Y.M. Yu, V.I. Chani, K. Shimamura, T. Fukuda, J. Cryst. Growth 171, 463 (1997).
V.I. Chani, K. Shimamura, T. Fukuda, Cryst. Res. Technol. 34, 519 (1999).
S. Ganschow, D. Klimm, B.M. Epelbaum, A.Yoshikawa, J. Doerschel, T. Fukuda, J. Cryst. Growth 225, 454 (2001).
B.M. Epelbaum, Flux Growth of Miniature Bulk Crystals by the µ-PD Method, in Shaped Crystals: Growth by Micro-Pulling-Down Technique, T. Fukuda, V.I. Chani, Eds. (Springer-Verlag, New York, 2007), p. 93.
V.I. Chani, K. Lebbou, B. Hautefeuille, O. Tillement, J.-M. Fourmigue, Cryst. Res. Technol. 41 (10), 972 (2006).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yoshikawa, A., Chani, V. Growth of Optical Crystals by the Micro-Pulling-Down Method. MRS Bulletin 34, 266–270 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1557/mrs2009.77
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/mrs2009.77