LASER-HEATED PEDESTAL GROWTH OF SR2RUO4 SINGLE-CRYSTAL FIBERS FROM SRRUO3

We report the single-crystal growth of Sr2RuO4 by the laser heated ped estal growth (LHPG) method. The fibers obtained were up to 30 mm in le ngth and around 0.8 mm in diameter. They crystallized with the K2NiF4 structure, space group 14/mmm and with lattice parameters a = 3.869(1) Angstrom, c = 12.745(5) Angstrom. They were easily cleaved along the growth axis, parallel to the (001) plane. The single-crystal fibers we re characterized by scanning electron microscopy, electron probe micro -analysis and X-ray diffraction.