Micromorphology and fractal parameters of growth surfaces of single crystals of paratellurite

Abstract

This paper presents studies of the influence of growth conditions of paratellurite single crystals on the side surface of grown boules and the possibility of assessing the quality of crystals based on the values and dynamics of the roughness parameters and fractal parameters of juvenile surfaces. Two single crystals were grown under similar technological conditions and differing from each other in structural quality. Their lateral surfaces were studied using the optical interference profilometer NanoMap 1000WLI employing SPIP and Gwyddion softwares. As a result, roughness parameters of profiles, and fractal parameters of crystal surfaces along the growth direction were obtained,. It was concluded that under conditions corresponding to the formation of stable flows in the melt, the values of the surface roughness over the entire length of the crystal is less than 5 μm, and the fractal energy parameter can be used as a marker of the quality and homogeneity of crystals.

Keywords

• paratellurite single crystals
• untreated crystal surface
• roughness parameters
• fractal parameters