Preparation of thin Nd-doped YVO4 single crystal rods by the floating zonemethod

Thin neodymium-doped yttrium orthovanadate (Nd:YVO4) single crystal rods we re successfully prepared by the floating zone method with an infrared conve rgence type heater. The minimum diameter obtained was about 0.8 mm. The dou ble pass technique was used to keep a stable molten zone throughout the gro wth of thin single crystals. The as-grown crystals were violet and transpar ent, and did not have macroscopic defects such as cracks and inclusions. Th e growth in the pure oxygen flow suppressed the evaporation of the vanadium oxides effectively. Dislocation density was decreased with decreasing crys tal diameters. No low-angle grain boundaries and no strains were observed f or any crystals up to 3 mm in diameter. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.