Single crystals of BeAl6O10, beryllium hexaaluminate, were grown by th
e Czochralski method. The optical, acousto-optical, elastic, and a num
ber of thermo-mechanical properties of bulk crystals of BeAl6O10 were
investigated in comparison with crystal of BeAl2O4, chrysoberyl. It ha
s been demonstrated that this material is the promising host for activ
e media of tunable solid state lasers. (C) 1997 American Institute of
Physics.