Growth and physical properties of CaSrBaF6 single crystals

Abstract

Using the Bridgman-Stockbarger method, crystals of triple fluoride CaF2-SrF2-BaF2 were grown in a composition range similar to that of CaSrBaF6. The crystals were 10-12 mm in diameter and 50–60 mm in length. The CaSrBaF6 crystal is a new optical material which is transparent in the mid-IR, visible and UV ranges. The uneven distribution of the components along the length of the crystal did not exceed 10 %. The edge of the absorption band in the IR range was 14.3 μm, and the optical absorption at the wavelength of 200 nm did not exceed 18 % (less than 0.2 cm–1). The refraction indices were 1.4527, 1.4488, and 1.4458 for the wavelengths of 633, 969, and 1539 nm respectively. The crystal melts in the temperature range of 1150–1210 °С. The CaSrBaF6 composition is an appropriate matrix for doping with rare-earth ions in order to obtain functional single-crystal and ceramic materials of the visible and IR ranges.

PbF2–CdF2–SrF2 Ternary Solid Solution: Crystal Growth and Investigation

“…Such crystals were grown previously and studied to a limited extent and are listed in Table 1. 1423-1483 [14,15] It should be noted that the CaF 2 -SrF 2 system is the most designed in terms of growing crystals and the most practically significant until now. Rare-earth-doped Ca 1−x Sr x F 2 solid solution crystals (and optical ceramics based on it) were grown and studied in [16][17][18][19][20][21][22] for various photonic applications.…”

“…Therefore, the search for multicomponent compositions with compositions close to congruent melting remains actual and is crucial for the development of inorganic materials science. Recently, single crystals of a ternary solid solution in the CaF 2 -SrF 2 -BaF 2 system were grown and studied in [14,15] in the range of compositions close to Ca 0.3(3) Sr 0.3(3) Ba 0.3(3) F 2 (CaSrBaF 6 ) with a high degree of uniformity in the axial distribution of components. Apparently, the nature of their crystallization is close to congruent.…”