Specific features of the morphology and distribution of gas inclusions in single-crystal sapphire ribbons grown by the Stepanov method

The distribution of gas inclusions in single-crystal sapphire ribbons with different crystallographic orientations, grown by the Stepanov method, is analyzed. In all ribbons gas inclusions are observed only in thin surface layers located at a depth of about 100 μm. One characteristic feature is the presence of several zones with different distributions and morphologies of inclusions. We observed inclusions of the two types: cylindrical pores and microbubbles. The differences in the morphology and zonality of the gas-inclusion distribution are consistent with the α-Al₂O₃ crystallography.