Influence of the atmosphere on the growth of LiYF4 single crystal fibers by the micro-pulling-down method

Micro-pulling-down growth of LiYF4 single crystal fibers have been performed under different gas atmospheres using stoichiometric LiYF4 single crystal pieces from prior Czochralski experiments as starting material. Completely transparent and phase pure LiYF4 single crystal fibers could be obtained after evacuation of the recipient to 2 x 10(-6) mbar and subsequent filling with pure (99.995%) CF4 gas. Using a gas mixture of 5% CF4 in Argon or pure 5N Argon leads to the formation of micro crystallites of oxofluorides on the surface. Evacuating only to 3 x 10(-3) mbar leads, independently of atmosphere, to completely white fibers that are heavily contaminated with oxofluorides. DSC measurements of the completely transparent fiber grown under pure CF4 atmosphere reveal congruent melting behavior. (C) 2009 WILEYNCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim