| Abstract: | The twinning morphology of β-BaB2O4 crystal grown by TSSG has been studied on the basis of crystallography. It was found that the faces R{101-2} and r{011-4} are often intergrown together by either r{011-4} intergrown in R{101-2} or in reverse, two individuals mostly take X(112-0) and occasionally take Y(011-0) as twin boundary; and that two individuals in the twin could take the same or opposite crystallographic polarity, this was identified by surface etched figures and the piezoelectric measurements. The formation of the twinned crystals are discussed from the crystallographic structural characteristics and the energetic considerations. The experimental factors such as crystal seed quality are suggested to reduce or eliminate the twin formation and to improve the crystal quality. |
