Oxide crystal growth using gas lasers

The use of CO2-N2-He gas lasers as a heat source in a floating-zone recrystallisation technique of crystal growth is described. So far, single crystals of Y2O3, CaZrO3, MgAl2O4 and Al2O3 have been grown in this manner and factors controlling their quality are discussed. The problems associated with this technique of crystal growth are reviewed.