Alkaline rare earth double tungstates ARE(WO4)2
(A - alkaline ion, RE - rare earth ion) They are characterized by low local symmetry, strong magnetic anisotropy,
strong spin-lattice coupling and low-dimensional magnetic structure. This property enhances
their attractiveness as matrices for research and possible applications in
nonlinear optics.
Crystalization method - Top Seeded Solution Growth (TSSG). K2W2O7 solvent containing up to 25% mol
of crystallized compounds was used.
Obtained crystals:
- KEr(WO4)2
Solution was homogenized for 32h at the temperature of 30oC above seeding temperature. For first crystals Pt rod was used as seed. Next crystals were obtained using single crystal <001> direction seed.
- cooling rate 0.05 K/h,
- pulling 1.2 - 1.5 mm/day,
- rotation rate 50 rpm.
-
KSm(WO4)2
Solution was homogenized for 32h at the temperature of 30oC above seeding temperature. For first crystals Pt rod was used as seed. Next crystals were obtained on single crystal seed with <010> direction.
- cooling rate 0.05 K/h,
- pulling 1.2 - 1.5 mm/day,
- rotation rate from 25 decreasing to 6 rpm.
RbNd(WO4)2
Solution was homogenized for 32h at the temperature of 30oC above seeding temperature. For first crystals Pt rod was used as seed. Another crystals were obtained using monocrystal seed.
- cooling rate 0.05 K/h,
- pulling 1.2 - 1.5 mm/day,
- rotation rate 10 rpm.
After growth process crystals were pulled up from the solution and cooled down to room temperature at the rate of 15 K/h.
Cooperation:
Optical measurements - Dr M. Borowiec IP PAS
EPR measurements - prof. S. Kaczmarek from Physics department of West Pomeranian University of Technology Szczecin