Novel implementation of laser heated pedestal growth for the rapid drawing of sapphire fibers

Abstract

A new version of laser heated pedestal growth system is described which is amenable for the rapid growth of single crystal fibers. The system incorporates a Gaussian reflector to reshape the radial intensity profile of the CO 2 laser beam. When He is used as the growth atmosphere, high optical quality sapphire fibers can be produced at rates as high as 2 cm/min with this apparatus. © 1994 American Institute of Physics.