Growth and electrostrictive properties of Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 crystals

Abstract

Transparent and stoichiometric lead-magnesium-niobate crystals were grown by the Bridgman method. Crystals of centimeter size were obtained without material loss by employing self-seeded and seeded techniques using sealed platinum crucibles. The fastest growth direction was found to be pseudocubic 〈111〉. As-grown crystals showed a broad absorption band centered near λ=600 nm and an OH absorption near λ=2830 nm. The electrostrictive coefficient Q11 was determined to be 1.15×10−2 m4 C−2 from the measured strain and polarization.