Growth of Yttrium Iron Garnet Single Crystals by the Floating Zone Technique

Abstract

A ${\mathrm{MoSi}}_2$ susceptor was used to melt and move an iron-rich zone through polycrystalline YIG bars. Crystals 0.25 in. diam or larger, with dielectric constant about 10 and dissipation 0.002, were obtained using the highest stable-zone temperature, a zoning rate of 0.1 in./hr, and an ${\mathrm{O}}_2$ pressure of 100 psig. Silicon contamination, crystalline imperfections, or nonequilibrium phases broadened linewidth, but highly polished test spheres yielded ΔΠ values of 1–2 oe.