Morphology of the polar twin structure in Czochralski grown α-SrB4O7 crystals

• Published in: Journal of crystal growth Vol. 416; pp. 17 - 20
• Main Authors: Zaitsev, A.I., Radionov, N.V., Cherepakhin, A.V., Vasiliev, A.D., Zamkov, A.V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.04.2015
• Subjects: A1. Optical microscopy; A2. Czochralski method; B1. Borates; Growth twins; Nonlinear optic materials; B1. Borates; Growth twins; A1. Optical microscopy; A2. Czochralski method; Nonlinear optic materials
• ISSN: 0022-0248; 1873-5002
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2015.01.004

The arrangement of a polar twin structure in Czochralski grown α-SrB4O7 crystals has been investigated. The transversal twin boundaries are stretched along [101] and [100] directions. The lateral twin boundaries are parallel to (010) plane. The twin structures have an extension up to centimeter size in all directions. Supposedly, they originate from polysynthetic polar microtwins revealed to form in (101¯) and (1¯01¯) growth pyramids. The dimensions, planarity and thickness stability of each individual twin are favorable for organizing quasi-phase matching conditions for nonlinear optical doubling of high-aperture beams. •A number of SrB4O7 crystals was grown by Czhochralski method.•Two distinctive types of growth twin structures were found to form in the crystals.•Arrangement of twin structures in the crystals has been investigated.•Growth twin structures in SrB4O7 crystals are promising media for QPM doubling.