Highly textured polycrystalline fibres of monoclinic P21/c Nd2SiO5 and hexagonal P63/m Nd9.33(SiO4)6O2 phases were obtained by Laser Floating Zone in air from stoichiometric mixtures of Nd2O3 and SiO2 changing the pulling rate from 10 to 400 mm/h. Distribution of phases barely varied due to the incongruent melt of the Nd2O3:SiO2 system, resulting in fibres adequate for microwave devices owing to the dielectric character of the Nd2SiO5 phase. Raman analysis was performed in this material for the first time.
Full Text Finder