Optical Floating Zone and Crystals Grown by this Method

Dear Colleagues,

The purpose of this Special Issue “Optical Floating Zone and Crystals Grown by this Method” is to create a forum for scientists who either explore the crystal growth process itself or analyse the crystals produced by the OFZ technique.

There is a continuous demand for functional oxide crystals with optical, magnetic and superconducting properties tailored for specific applications and for new substrates with parameters enabling the growth of new thin films.

The OFZ crystal growth method is complementary to established techniques like the Czochralski and Bridgman methods. It operates without the limitations of a crucible, conveniently applying an inert, oxidising or reducing atmosphere and allowing the growth of oxides, and their solid solutions to melt congruently or incongruently, often at relatively high temperatures and pressure. It is a convenient technique for the creation of new compositions and controlling unusual oxidation states in the search for promising chemical and physical properties.

All researchers are invited to contribute and present their achievements here. As the properties of created materials depend on the crystal quality, in this issue there is also room for different aspects of the characterisation of the materials grown by OFZ and for the comparison of the oxides grown by this technique with those grown by other methods.

All reports about the

- growth of “exotic” oxides never grown as crystals before;

- growth of crystals with controlled doping;

- highlights of new approaches to the OFZ method itself, including the

- modification of the technique:

- modelling of the process;

- and the application of OFZ in the search for new materials

are very much welcome in this issue.

Dr. Hanna A. Dabkowska
Guest Editor

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