TOP SEEDED SOLUTION GROWTH OF CR3+-LICAALF6 IN HF ATMOSPHERE

Single crystals of the tunable laser material, Cr3+:LiCailf6. were were grown via a top seeded solution method from LiF enriched melts. A weight sensing feedback system was used for diameter control. Boules were grown along [101BAR0] at 20 rpm and 0.75 mm/h in a flowing atmosphere of N2-HF. Cr3+ was dispersed along the boule with a measured distribution coefficient (k) of 1.0. External quality was excellent with faceted growth in a flat solid-liquid interface. Internal quality was good but scattering defects, observed by He-Ne laser, were distributed primarily near the boule core. Traces of OH- were found in the boules by infrared spectroscopy. The scattering is related to defects, e.g. dislocations or particles, believed to arise from the thermal conditions.