Effect of Fluid Flow on the Concentrational Nonuniformities in LiNd1-xYxF4 Compound

In this work we have investigated the effect of convective melt flow on structural and compositional nonuniformities of LiNd1-xYxF4 crystal grown by the Bridgman-Stockbarger technique. The crystal was studied by the scanning electron microscopy. The Nd3+ distribution in the crystal was analyzed using electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The structure of convection vortices was investigated at various stages of crystal growth.