Crystal growth of new functional materials for electro-optical applications

High quality fluoride and oxide single crystals for optical, piezoelectric, and other applications have been grown by advanced crystal growth techniques. Corquiriite- and Perovskite-type fluoride single crystals - LiCaAlF₆, LiSrAlF₆, KMgF₃ and BaLiF₃ - have been grown for solid state ultraviolet laser applications, and as window materials for next generation optical lithography. La₃Nb_0.5Ga_5.5O₁₄ and La₃Ta_0.5Ga_5.5O₁₄ piezoelectric single crystals of size and quality comparable to La₃Ga₅SiO₁₄ (langasite) have been produced. The piezoelectric and device properties of the crystals were investigated. A search for new langasite-type materials was also performed. Promising new structural materials, Al₂O₃/RE₃Al₅O₁₂ (RE = rare earth) eutectic fibres, have been grown by the micro-pulling-down technique. Undoped and doped β-Ga₂O₃ single crystals have been grown by the floating zone technique as promising transparent conductive oxides.