The problem of creating an automated system to control growth of single crystal sapphires from melt as a problem of control and monitoring of a complex nonlinear and dynamic system

Abstract

The paper mentions some problems of automated control system development for growth of large (150 kg and above) single crystal sapphires. We obtain an analytical equation for the temperature distribution and thermal stresses along the crystal axis during the growth phase. An analysis was carried out and numerical estimates were obtained for the axial distribution of components of thermoelastic stresses depending on the physical, optical, and geometric parameters of the crystal. It is shown that the cause of thermal stresses and blocks during crystal growth is the nonlinear temperature dependence of thermal conductivity and thermal expansion coefficients.