摘要
Optical floating zone（FZ） crystal growth involving growth stability and as-grown crystal perfection is affected by experimental conditions and the specific material. Referring to rare earth silicides, high purity of raw rare earth elements and ambient argon atmosphere are crucial to grow high-quality crystals; the maximum zone height is determined by equating the capillary forces of the surface tension; and asymmetric counter rotation of crystal and feed rod with convex（toward the melt） interfaces are favored to reach single crystals. Influences of several other growth parameters were also discussed in detail in this paper.
Optical floating zone（FZ） crystal growth involving growth stability and as-grown crystal perfection is affected by experimental conditions and the specific material. Referring to rare earth silicides, high purity of raw rare earth elements and ambient argon atmosphere are crucial to grow high-quality crystals; the maximum zone height is determined by equating the capillary forces of the surface tension; and asymmetric counter rotation of crystal and feed rod with convex（toward the melt） interfaces are favored to reach single crystals. Influences of several other growth parameters were also discussed in detail in this paper.
基金
financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51301021)
Special Fund for Basic Scientific Research of Central Colleges (No. 2013G1311051)
the Fund of the State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing in Northwestern Polytechnical University (No. SKLSP201302)
