Growth and magnetic‐optical properties of Sr₃Gd(BO₃)₃ and Sr₃Tb_xGd_1‐x(BO₃)₃ single crystals

Abstract

Abstract Single crystals of Sr 3 Gd(BO 3 ) 3 (SGB) and Sr 3 Tb x Gd 1‐x (BO 3 ) 3 (TSGB) with dimension Ø 20 mm×20 mm have been grown by Czochralski method. The grown crystals were characterized by X‐ray powder diffraction analysis which showed the crystals belong to hexagonal structure with lattice parameters of a=b=1.254 nm, c=0.926 nm (SGB) and a=b=1.253 nm, c=0.925 nm (TSGB). In TSGB, x=17.7% was obtained by X‐ray fluorometry which showed the segregation coefficient of Tb is closed to 1. The transmission spectrum was measured, which indicated the crystals have high transmittance in 400‐1100 nm region. The Faraday rotation of single crystals at 532 nm wavelength was measured at room temperature. Finally, the Verdet constants were investigated, (SGB) V=17.9 degcm ‐1 T ‐1 and (TSGB) V=21.3 degcm ‐1 T ‐1 . (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)