TWIN-FREE SINGLE-CRYSTAL GROWTH OF NDGAO3

Czochralski growth of NdGaO3 single crystal is investigated. Temperature conditions during crystal growing and cooling are important in eliminating a multitude of twins and cracks. Entirely crack- and twin-free single crystals of less than 40 mm in diameter can be grown under optimized temperature conditions. Growth habits mainly consist of {112} surfaces. The best full width at half maximum of a double-crystal X-ray diffraction peak is 25-30 arc sec, and the etch pit density is approximately 10(4) cm-2. Twin-free Nd0.8La0.2GaO3 single crystal is also grown successfully under the same temperature conditions.