The growth of Nd:CaWO4 single crystals

CaWO4 doped with 0.8 % at. Nd (Nd:CaWO4) single crystals were grown from the melt in air by the Czochralski technique. The critical diameter dc = 1.0 cm and the critical rate of rotation ωc = 30 rpm were calculated from hydrodynamic equations for buoyancy-driven and forced convection. The rate of crystal growth was experimentally obtained to be 6.7 mm/h. For chemical polishing, a solution of 1 part saturated chromic acid (CrO3 in water) and 3 parts conc. H3PO4 (85 %) at 433 K with an exposure time of 2 h was found to be adequate. A mixture of 1 part concentrated HF and 2 parts chromic acid at room temperature after exposure for 30 min was found to be a suitable etching solution. The lattice parameters a = 0.52404 (6) nm, c = 1.1362 (6) nm and V0 = 0.312 (2) nm3 were determined by X-ray powder diffraction. The obtained results are discussed and compared with published data.

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