Crystal Growth of $Ca_3(Li,Nb,Ga)_5O_{12}$ Garnet Crystals

Various types of garnet compounds were synthsized by iso-and aliovalent substitutions and sintering method. Among them, fiber shapes of garnet crystals were grown from the $Ca_3Li_xNb_{(1.5+x)}Ga_{(3.5-2x)}O_{12}$ melt where x = 0 ~ 0.5 by modified micro-pulling down method in air using Pt crucibles. The measured lattice constants as a function of solidification fraction of grown fiber crystals are about $12.54\;{\AA}$ irrespective of x. It was found that the $Ca_3Li_{0.275}Nb_{1.775}Ga_{2.95}O_{12}$ garnet melts congruently at about $1450\;^{\circ}C$ based on the purities of garnet phase and variations of lattice parameter. Transparent and bubble-free crystals of x = 0.25 and 0.275 were grown by Czochralski techniques in air using Pt crucibles. An absorption spectrum is also reported.