| Abstract: | The as‐grown surface and inner structures of undoped and Nd3+‐, Cr3+‐, V3+‐, Ce3+‐, Er3+ and Yb3+ – and (Er3+ + Yb3+) – doped yttrium aluminum borate (YAB) single crystals grown from (K2Mo3O10 + B2O3) flux by spontaneous crystallization or top seeded solution growth (TSSG) technique, were investigated using optical and scanning electron microscopic and analytic chemical methods. Fine and rough growth hillocks of dislocational origin, growth layers, traces of inner planar defects and foreign phase crystalline debris were found and analyzed on the as‐grown faces of crystals. Irregular grains and regular block structures and foreign phase inclusions were observed and studied in the interior of the crystals. The chemical compositions measured by energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometry on perfect and imperfect micro regions are compared with those obtained by flame atomic absorption spectrometry on bulk crystals. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) |
