ABSTRACTYttrium iron garnet (YIG) single crystal fibers of nominal composition Y3Fe5O12 were grown by the laser heated pedestal growth (LHPG) technique, a miniaturized floated-zone process. YIG which melts incongruently, was grown at a temperature below the peritectic decomposition temperature under self-adjusting conditions even though it has very narrow solidification region according to the Y2O3-Fe2O3 phase diagram. YIG fibers in diameter ranges from 100 to 750 μm were grown at various growth rates and conditions, and analyzed by x-ray diffraction, electron microprobe, and IR-VIS spectroscopy. Infrared transparent YIG fibers were grown at rates below 12 mm/h in air. At these growth rates, yttrium orthoferrite and iron-oxide inclusions within the YIG fiber, which act as IR scattering centers, were significantly reduced. The transparency of the fibers was more dependent on the growth rate than the stability of the molten zone. Surface ridges containing an Fe-rich composition were observed at all growth rates. These were associated with molten zone instability.
