Floating Zone Growth of Bulk Single Crystals of Complex Oxides

Abstract

In this MRS Proceedings paper, we present a review of the floating zone growth process, and describe growth techniques as relevant to four selected families of current or continued interest in the area of condensed matter physics of highly correlated electron systems: Cuprate oxides (Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O y ), Ruthenate oxides (Sr 2 RuO 4 ), Manganite oxides (La 1-x Sr x MnO 3 , La 2-2x Sr 1+2x Mn 2 O 7 , (RE)MnO 3 (RE=Rare Earth)) and Ferrite oxides (BiFeO 3 ). We also discuss our experiences with factors that tend to contribute to poor crystal growth, as relevant to experiments to probe correlated-electron physics in such crystals.

Colossal Negative Magnetoresistance Effect in a La1.37Sr1.63Mn2O7 Single Crystal Grown by Laser-Diode-Heated Floating-Zone Technique

“…Thus, the grown crystals should have the highest purity [15]. Therefore, the floating-zone technique has been widely used to grow single crystals of oxides like La 2−2x Sr 1+2x Mn 2 O 7 manganites [28]. Compared with the traditional floating-zone furnace with IR-heating halogen lamps, the laser-diode-heated floating-zone furnace holds a higher maximum temperature and a steeper temperature gradient at the liquid-solid interface [29].…”

Gaplike Excitations in the Superconducting State ofBi2Sr2CaCu2O8Studied by Resonant Raman Scattering

“…The dielectric function was measured at room temperature by spectroscopic ellipsometry (Sentech Instruments) from the same sample surface that was used for inelastic light scattering. The overdoped Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8 (Bi-2212, T c 82 K) sample was grown at 0:1 mm=h from a floating zone furnace [21]. Tunneling data show a strongly varying value of the superconducting gap with doping [20].…”

“…Tunneling data show a strongly varying value of the superconducting gap with doping [20]. While is close to 38 meV for optimally doped samples with a T c of 95 K, the value of the superconducting gap drops drastically with increasing doping in overdoped materials to about 25 meV for samples with a T c of about 82 K [21,22]. The largest experimental error of the intensity in corrected units is given by the chromatic aberrations in the spatial filter.…”