Li20 evaporation during the laser heated pedestal growth of LiTaO3 single-crystal fibers

Abstract

The growth of LiTaO₃ single-crystal fibers by the Laser Heated Pedestal Growth technique was performed using different pulling rates and growth atmosphere pressures. Fibers were produced with a diameter of about 800 μm and lengths between 20 and 50 mm. Due to the high melting point of LiTaO₃, incongruent evaporation of lithium oxide took place during the growth. Its influence on the morphology of the crystals obtained was characterized by transmission optical microscopy and an estimate of the evaporation time constant of Li₂O made.