Abstract

Recent development of a computer-controlled Czochralski crystal growth system at Stanford University has allowed us to produce large single-crystal Sr_0.6Ba_0.4Nb₂O₆ boules. Since this material is grown in a solid solution, striations are normally present and difficult to suppress. We discuss the nature of the striations and a simple scattering measurement that provides quantitative information about the degree of compositional variation in our samples. The results show that the effect of striations on laser beam propagation is negligible over a wide range of input angles.

© 1989 Optical Society of America