Gas bubble associated mass transport in Bridgman-Stockbarger melt growth system

Experimental evidence has been obtained showing that gas bubbles may be responsible for melt stirring in Bridgman-Stockbarger growth system which results in Pfann type impurity distribution profiles along the crystal length. The hypothesis of the gas bubble associated mass transfer mechanism is supported by the production of Y₃Al₅O₁₂–Nd³⁺ single crystals under conditions which eliminate or limit gas bubble nucleation in the melts with Nd³⁺ distribution profiles similar to those generally observed in melt growth systems where the mass transport in the melts is limited to diffusion.